The Yankees announced tonight that third baseman Miguel Andujar will undergo surgery to repair the labrum tear in his right shoulder next Monday. He’s expected to miss the remainder of the 2019 season.
The team and fans alike had huge hopes for Andujar, who finished second in 2018 American League Rookie of the Year voting, but his 2019 campaign will unfortunately come to an end after just a dozen games and 49 plate appearances. The 23-year-old originally landed on the injured list after just three games and missed the entire month of April as well as some time in early May before opting to return in an attempt to play through the injury.
Andujar, though, went just 3-for-34 at the plate with a walk and nine strikeouts in his brief return to the active roster before being placed back on the IL. Yankees skipper Aaron Boone said yesterday that Andujar was once again weighing his options and planned to talk them over with his family, though the decision apparently didn’t take all that long this time around.
The injury to Andujar is the most serious the Yankees have faced in a season that has already been permeated by health woes, but the team currently has both Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu healthy as well as Gio Urshela playing the best baseball of his professional career. The club eventually hopes to have both Troy Tulowitzki and Didi Gregorius back in the infield mix as well, and if that happens, they’ll still have a strong mix of options to pair with first baseman Luke Voit in rounding out the infield.
That said, the impact of losing a bat that produced a .297/.328/.527 batting line with 27 homers, 47 doubles and a pair of triples a year ago can’t be understated. Andujar was a key middle-of-the-order presence for last year’s 100-win Yankees club, and while there’s no shortage or internal options to replace him on a fully healthy club, it’s also unlikely that any of the alternatives can match that level of offensive output. Whoever shoulders the load at third base for the remainder of the season will likely be a defensive upgrade over Andujar, who struggled with the glove last season.
Andujar will still accrue Major League service time while he finishes out the season on the injured list, and he’ll cross the two-year mark in the months to come. He won’t be eligible for arbitration until after the 2020 season and won’t be a free agent until the 2023-24 offseason. The Yankees, meanwhile, will be able to easily open a 40-man roster spot by transferring him to the 60-day injured list the next time a need arises.
That sucks! Here’s to a speedy recovery Miguel! I have total faith in DJ and Gio to hold things down at 3B
I am the sad.
Much sad.
I am I said
“I yam what I yam, and that’s all what I yam.”
“ Popeye
Oof!
What a let down. Judging completely by what I’ve read of his character I feel Miggy wanted to come out and have a great season and try and show any improvements he may have made during the off-season. It’s been reported he worked hard at it all winter. Heal well, keep your spirits up and we hope to see at 100% next season,
on the bright side, this will probably allow him to work on his glove a little more. obviously no throwing for a long while but things like footwork and reactions with the glove side can be worked on.
Wait till the Nats are ready to sell then trade for Rendon.
No thanks
Why not?
Bummer. Sorry to hear this, Yankee bros.
Here’s to a speedy and complete recovery. One of the more exciting young players in the game.
Bum bum bum bum another bites the dust!
-Freddie Mercury
you cant always get what you want -Mick Jagger
sad but true – Metallica
It’s not whatcha want.
worth the wait for a full recovery
That’s what I get for having Judge, Stanton, and Andujar on my fantasy team this year. Next year I’m drafting all Dodgers to see if I can use my powers for good.
*Dodgers drafted by JekPorkins precede to have a great year but still loses his fantasy leauge
It is the right decision for everyone. He will return next year much more like the 2018 player than this year’s version.
It was in the tea leaves. Bird had season ending shoulder surgery and his shoulder is fine now. See you in 2020. The Gio era is upon us. Next man up.
The Yanks will sign Sister Mary of the Sisters of Perpetual Motion…..she’ll play all IF positions flawlessly, slash 290/390/490 for 2 months, and then leave to rejoin the convent.
Any chance the Yankees are desperate enough to take on Longoria and his salary?? He’d hit way better in NY.
More likely Pablo Sandoval. Fitting since Boston’s paying the majority of his salary.
approx. $60M owed to Longo through 2022 – please, please, please! I’d bet the Giants would eat half that to make something work
Here’s the trade: Longoria and Bumgarner for a top-10 NYY OF prospect. Do we have a deal?
Pretty stupid from him trying to play it through, a torn labrum in your shoulder isn’t just going to heal in a month. Now he’s going to have to re-strengthen the shoulder in the off-season.
Hows it any different, doc?
These people act like they know better than doctors
I knew they should have traded the one year wonder!
I agree. Thor would have worked well for Miggy and Sessa.
How is he a one year wonder when injuries have robbed him of his season ???
Why don’t they put him on the 60 day IL right now? They know he’s done for the year. Is there some advantages to waiting Steve?
So they don’t get tempted to use the spot on a bum.
I hope he has a full recovery. I hope that the Yankees, destroy the Roid Sox every time they play this season.
Roid Sox? Explain please
First he gets robbed of ROY now he gets robbed of his season.
Andujar will never be the same again! Better find lighting in a bottle2.0!
Ohtani is already back out there playing. Because he had the surgery.
Their injuries are way different.
Quick recovery Andjuar get well soon!
I don’t want any Yankee ever hurt but why can’t it ever be the .197 hitting Gardner? The F off the team already your nothing but dead space.
If you sent Gardner to Cleveland, he’d immediately be their best hitting outfielder. The only problem is that they’d want the Yanks to pay his whole salary, plus send them three years worth of soda to keep the vending machines full in the clubhouse.
Best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery to Mr. Miguel Andujar. May you have a long and successful baseball career.
A year late on this folks ! Might never recover too bad. As I said many times before – time to fire all the Trainers – Strength & Conditioning Coaches !
Results speak – 12-14 players on IL or out for season ! Come on Hal !!