Injuries to cornerstone players have defined the season for the Yankees, who are likely to see right fielder Aaron Judge hit the IL next. But there is better news regarding banged-up catcher Gary Sanchez and third baseman Miguel Andujar, who, like Judge, are among New York’s offensive linchpins. Sanchez, on the IL with a left calf strain since April 11, will play a minor league rehab game Monday and should then return to the Yankees’ lineup Wednesday, per David Lennon of Newsday. Meanwhile, the Yankees “continue to be optimistic” that Andujar will come back this season, according to manager Aaron Boone (via Lennon). Andujar hasn’t played since March 31 because of a labrum tear in his right (throwing) shoulder, an issue the team has feared could require season-ending surgery. However, the majority of recent Andujar updates have been positive, and that’s all the more heartening for the Yankees given their injury-ravaged state.
Here’s more from the American League East…
- Blue Jays right-hander Matt Shoemaker suffered a left knee sprain Saturday and will undergo an MRI on Sunday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports. A stint on the injured list looks like a legitimate possibility for Shoemaker, who was frequently on the IL during his Angels tenure. The first-year Blue Jay, whom they signed for $3.5MM in free agency, looked like a quality bargain pickup for the club prior to his latest injury. Shoemaker threw three scoreless innings against Oakland before departing Saturday, leaving him with a 1.57 ERA/3.80 FIP, 7.53 K/9, 2.83 BB/9 and a 51.4 percent groundball rate in 28 2/3 frames this year.
- Rays second baseman Joey Wendle is nearing activation from the IL, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. A left hamstring strain has kept Wendle out since March 31 and given the keystone to Brandon Lowe, who’s enjoying an outstanding season thus far. Wendle was effective in his own right in 2018, when he batted .300/.354/.435 (116 wRC+) with 3.7 fWAR in 545 PA.
- Second baseman Jonathan Schoop has spent nearly his entire career as a member of the Orioles, though they cut ties with him last July when they traded him to the Brewers. Schoop then became a Twin in free agency this past offseason, but he tells Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com that he was open to a reunion with Baltimore. “Honestly, there were a lot of teams that were talking to me,” Schoop said of his trip to the open market. “I was thinking about it if I had the chance to come back. This was the team that gave me a chance. So I was thinking about it. But they never reached out. So I go forward and the Minnesota Twins was the one coming out more. So right away I signed with them.” On the heels of a down 2018, Schoop joined the Twins on a one-year, $7.5MM deal in December. Even though we’re just a few weeks into the season, Schoop has bounced back to a degree in the early going, having hit .241/.317/.407 (97 wRC+) in 60 plate appearances.
Really hope Shoemaker is only due for a short rehab. Apart from having a great start to the season, the guy has had to fight through several injuries and bloody deserves a good run.
I’m hoping he doesn’t need surgery, but 6-8 weeks would be what you could expect for something like this. I really feel for him.
Sam deserves to take his spot and they could promote someone to the pen.
Schoop looked like a super star in the making in 2017. He started 2018 out slow, picked up again, then got traded and played terribly. I hope to see him get back to the 2017 schoop. He’s a great player. It’s nice to know he wanted to return
That is one super low bar to call Schoop great. I was going to comment on MLBTR calling it a bounce back when everything is below average but this idiotic comment takes the cake. He, the O’s and you all deserve each other. 120 losses he we come
Schoop posted over 5 bwar in 2017. That’s a very strong season. I’m not sure why it’s a stretch to call that “great” production. Certainly, though, he has yet to reaffirm that level of productivity since.
Teams don’t pick and pay players based on the cynical fans, but on potential ROI.
Jays should be talking to Gio Gonzalez once he is available
Jays don’t really need him. They’re not competing, Gio might not have trade value and would rather have younger prospects get their chance. Borucki (late May) and Richard will be up from the IL eventually.
Mets and Brewers would be perfect.
We also have Phelps and Richard rehabbing, so eventually there is plenty of help coming.
Most of the Yankees’ injuries are not serious.
Look out, AL East.
They don’t have to be serious to detail a season.
How do you figure “Most of the Yankees injuries are not serious”?
Betances-no timetable
Bird-probably gonna be on the 60 day(like he matters)
Hicks- back, and again no timetable
Judge-not even close to knowing
Severino-probably around All Star game
Andujar-if the hope is right he can’t really throw and still might need surgery.
That’s most of the injuries, and they aren’t minor, not even close!
x I hope this is sarcasm.
Sloppy execution of a rundown by the Jays results in an injury to their pitcher. First Tellez doesn’t aggressively run toward Chapman, then instead of Galvis the SS taking the throw it’s Sogard who should have been busting his tail to 1B once the rundown started, didn’t. Whole point is to let Galvis take Tellez’s throw and avoid letting the pitcher be involved. Pitcher is there to backup an overthrow.
Sogard receives the ball too early from Tellez and he can’t run down Chapman. Enter Shoemaker, enter the IL.
Some infielders should be chewed out for this. Probably won’t happen.
Guess they should throw TrimReaper out there cuz he has all the answers
If Charlie saw something wrong, they will hear about it, but you won’t.
Don’t need to hear about it. Experienced players making baserunning mistakes, rundown mistakes or being unable to count to 4 probably needs to be addressed. Not asking for great baseball, just smarter baseball. That’s not too much to ask.
I said this as soon as Shoemaker caught the ball. There is no reason for him to be involved. There should have been one throw and done. Hopefully the injury is not that serious.