11:50pm: Bader is expected to miss at least “a few weeks,” Boone said after tonight’s win over the Mariners (relayed by Chris Kirschner of the Athletic).
8:20pm: The Yankees placed center fielder Harrison Bader on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain before this evening’s game in Seattle. New York also optioned catcher Ben Rortvedt to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Fellow backstop Jose Trevino has been activated from his own IL stint, while Franchy Cordero was recalled to take Bader’s spot in the outfield.
Bader’s IL placement comes as little surprise. Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged it was a possibility this morning after Bader had left last night’s game. He underwent an MRI this morning. It’s not clear how significant the strain is or how long the Yankees expect him to be sidelined, but he’ll be out for at least a week and a half.
It’s the second time this year in which Bader has landed on the shelf. He missed the first month of the season with an oblique strain. Since returning, he’s been one of New York’s best players. Bader is hitting .267/.295/.511 with six homers and stolen bases apiece in 26 games. He’s paired that with characteristically excellent defense over his 205 1/3 innings of center field work. When healthy, Bader has shown the ability to be a very productive two-way outfielder. He’s unfortunately been no stranger to the IL, though, as he’s yet to surpass 427 MLB plate appearances in a season.
That combination of productivity but a checkered injury history will make Bader an interesting free agent case next winter. Alongside Cody Bellinger and the older Kevin Kiermaier, he’s slated to top the center field class. His market will obviously be determined in large part by how quickly he makes his return and his form down the stretch.
Aaron Judge got the bulk of the center field work last time Bader was on the shelf. Greg Allen, who wasn’t on the roster last month, is getting the nod there tonight. Judge is in right field with Isiah Kiner-Falefa manning left against Seattle righty Logan Gilbert.
desertbull
This guy is always hurt. No wonder STL dumped him.
drasco036
Yeah they “dumped him” for Jordan Montgomery, yankee logic. Never mind the Cardinals needed pitching and had/has an abundance of riches in the outfield, it was clearly a “dump” job by St. Louis.
JoeBrady
It was the essence of a good trade. Ignoring the injuries, it was need-for-need. And Bader could still be a perfect fit for the NYY.
Fever Pitch Guy
Joe – The Yankees never had a “need” for an often-injured CF’er.
If they did, they could have brought back Ellsbury.
drasco036
Unfortunately for the Yankees, their great trade deadline turned into a disaster. Benny and Bader along with Judge would have given them one of if not the best defensive outfield in the game but both got hurt (I think Bader was hurt when they traded for him).
PoisonedPens
Sorry. would still rather have however many games of Bader’s defense and hot/cold hitting than Montgomery as a slightly above league average 4/5 starter @$10M per season.
Lanidrac
He’s not always hurt. He was actually completely healthy for three full seasons in a row from 2018-2020. There were just alternative reasons he didn’t get more than 427 PAs in those years.
In his first full MLB season of 2018, he didn’t become a starter until partway through the season. In 2019, he was benched at times for his poor offense that year. In 2020, well that one’s obvious.
Although, I will concede that he is starting to look somewhat injury prone now that he’s missing significant time to injury over the three most recent seasons of his career.
Captain-Judge99
At least Hicks is gone!
dasit
hicks goes 2 for 2 with a walk in his first 3 at-bats with baltimore then exits the game with a calf injury. the guy is maddening
Yankeesforever
considering how the Yankees always underplay every injury, he will probably show up in the clubhouse wearing prosthetic leg next week.
Joe says...
One of the best descriptions of Boone that I have seen compared him to the Black Knight on Monty Python.
dasit
amazing
Dr2022
That is a good one
YankeesBleacherCreature
Perfect time to sign him to a 7-year extension.
solaris602
Precisely! I remember it was like the day before Bader hit the IL the first time this year he was talking to a reporter about how open he was to a Yankee extension. It would be VERY Cashman to extend him.
top jimmy
This guy is so fragile. 7 seasons in the majors and he’s never reached 380 ABs.
Rishi
Well, there was also sucking for stretches that played a role. But yeah. Always hurt
Lanidrac
2017 was only a cup of coffeee, and he was completely healthy for three years in a row from 2018-2020. See above for the reasons he still didn’t get full playing time those years.
D2323
What about Frazier Andujar and Hicks for Mike Trout? Thanks Mike I’ll hang up and listen.
dasit
this gag has got whiskers on it
BuyBuyMets
Mold
SweetBabyRayKingsThickThighs
“A few weeks” by Doctor Boone means he’ll be back in August.
Domingo111
The Yankees are the New Mets considering injuries:).
Part of the Problem is the Yankees inability to develop homegrown hitters in the last decade so they have to rely on older, injury prone guys and have very little replacement coming up.
The Yankees had their fair share of hyped hitting prospects over the last decade, some of them even had a good half season or so (Sanchez, andujar) but they haven’t developed a homegrown long term above average regular in years. You might count Torres if you are generous but he already was an advanced prospect for the cubs then. But even if you do count him as a Yankees development success that isn’t much sucess except for judge who got help by a private hiting guru and made the league 8 years ago.
Now the Yankees again have some exiting hitting prospects coming up, hopefully for them some of volpe, peraza,Dominguez, Austin wells, Spencer Jones do become something and not the next hyped Yankees hitting prospect fail like Sanchez, monteiro, clint frazier and many others.
The Yankees really need that because stanton, judge, Rizzo, lemahieu and Co won’t become less injury prone.
Yankees did a solid job developing pitchers but were horrible developing hitters over the last decade and they need to change that soon.
Baseball dude
They will ruin Dominguez too!!
ItsKirsten
It’s not just hitters they haven’t developed lol
MLB Top 100 Commenter
More Master Bader than Lord Bader.
whyhayzee
THEN: “Manager Aaron Boone tells Talkin’ Yanks that Bader will miss at least a few games and could even require a trip to the injured list.”
NOW: “Bader is expected to miss at least “a few weeks,” Boone said after tonight’s win over the Mariners (relayed by Chris Kirschner of the Athletic).”
NEXT: Who ever knows with Dr. Boonedoggle?
JoeBrady
Boone always wants to stay positive, even when there is no reason to. Now I have to start looking for a 1B to replace Rizzo, who is apparently going to start on Monday night, who I now anticipate going on the IL.
rocky7
They’ve got a replacement for him in the minors (Chaparro) and that kid can hit the hell out of the ball…..as usual the only knock the team has mentioned is he’s right handed……the Yankees need to figure out first base outside of Rizzo who at his age is going to be a 115 game max player sooner than later…..and don’t get me wrong I really like Rizzo.
Dr2022
Next” we expect him back for the postseason”
judgementday99
Stanton 2.0
Mikenmn
He’s a solid player when on the field, But the Yankees management has fallen back into to pattern from years ago where they always thought that merely putting on pinstripes makes the oft-injured player suddenly healthy and the older one suddenly rediscovering health. Their IL mocks that approach every single day.
CravenMoorehead
With all these injuries one guy that isn’t getting enough credit is IKF. Instead of complaining about playing time and being a clown (like Aaron Hicks) he has embraced his role as a super utility player and has been quietly producing the Yankees at any position on the field and in the lineup (like last night). Team first mentality.
Niceee
Admit I was an IKF hater, but he’s been great the last week or so.
CravenMoorehead
You love to see it. He’s a great guy and wants to help the team in any capacity. He’s faced a lot of criticism and instead of being negative about it he goes out there and gives 100%.
Niceee
Totally, respect to him, his avg has gone up like 40 points as of late. Also looked solid at SS other day
rocky7
Definitely has refined his approach at the plate….interesting to see how long he can maintain without falling into any slump….and as far as defensively….his play at SS last year was mainly solid….not spectacular but the Yankees knew this when he was traded for regardless of the media and team hype…..he fell into a defensive slump late in the year and the media beat him into the ground about it…….he’s a solid player who can play all over the field……
CravenMoorehead
From what I read he’s “swinging harder” as opposed to making contact and trying to slap the ball around the field. Whatever adjustments he’s made are clearly working as of late.
Dr2022
Agreed. He may not have much power, or the most talent, but he makes the best of it.
holecamels35
Try and offer Jasson Dominguez to the Pirates for Yankees legend Miguel Andujar, good buy low scenario.
josebatflip
Why won’t they call up Florial???
Niceee
Seriously, especially after seeing Cordero in the Texas series, woof.
dasit
he’s out of options and makes less contact than greg allen
Earle Combs
Florial’s OPS is currently over 1, his batting average is .322, he has a dozen home runs, he steals bases, he is a good defender with a strong arm. Despite the strikeouts, he IS getting on base. He need an extended look.
ctbronx7
Sadly, Ca$hman has already made up his mind on Florial. Watch him move on to KC, Washington or Oakland and become a productive everyday player.
Pickle_Britches
No surprise lol. He lasted longer than I thought. Time to bring Hicks back lmao