Yankees center fielder Harrison Bader is headed for examination on his left oblique, manager Aaron Boone informed reporters (including Marly Rivera of ESPN). The right-handed hitter felt some side soreness during his final at-bat in yesterday’s Spring Training contest.
The club won’t know whether there’s any cause for concern until the imaging results come back. Nevertheless, it adds at least a little more health uncertainty for a team that has already had its share of Spring Training injuries. The Yankees have already lost Frankie Montas for the bulk of the season due to shoulder surgery, while general manager Brian Cashman told reporters this morning that each of Carlos Rodón, Lou Trivino and Tommy Kahnle would start the year on the shelf.
Acquired from the Cardinals for Jordan Montgomery last summer, Bader didn’t make his team debut until late September. He was on the injured list at the time of the trade because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot, an injury that kept him out of action for nearly two more months. Bader struggled during his final couple weeks of regular season action but caught fire in the playoffs, when he hit five homers in just 35 plate appearances.
Bader is one of the sport’s top defensive outfielders. His offense has been less consistent but the 28-year-old has shown flashes of quality production on both sides of the ball. Injuries have kept Bader from ever putting things together over a full season, however. He’s spent time on the injured list in each of the past three 162-game schedules. He had a minimal IL stint due to a 2019 hamstring strain and lost more than a month in 2021 with a hairline fracture in his rib prior to last year’s foot issues.
If healthy, Bader is set to man center field on an everyday basis in the Bronx. He’ll be flanked by Aaron Judge, while Boone will have to determine how to divide playing time amongst Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Cabrera, Estevan Florial and Giancarlo Stanton in the opposite corner. Any injury to Bader could increase the chances for the opt-of-options Florial to stick on the MLB roster or for a non-roster veteran like Rafael Ortega or Michael Hermosillo to secure a 40-man spot.
That explains why he was so eager to get an extension. Not so fast! Lol
Yeah the only thing he extended was his Oblique.
Ranger is yours working again? Mine isn’t .
You’re commenting on every post talking about how you can’t comment. Clearly it’s working better than you’re giving it credit for.
I could on my phone not my computer. Now it’s fixed. Somebody must of hacked something.
I couldn’t post on either which led me to believe the problem wasn’t on my end. I was confused by the fact that some people were able to post..
I was using the app yesterday. My account works today. I was scared they banned me for being too much of an alpha. I’m glad it’s working again now. I did notice very few comments overall on most recent articles.
Not very alpha to be scared of being banned is it.
Good point!
If you’re worried about being banned for your opinions then your opinions probably aren’t really very truthful. As long as it’s not hate speech you should survive I would think.
When the Oblique requires surgery it’s not Tommy John, it’s Tommy Hilfiger.
new angels!
The Yankees seem to be setting a record: every new player they have brought in since last July has broken down. I’ve lost count. Let’s see… Montas, Bader, Rodon, Trivino, Effross, Kahnle. Have I missed anyone?
If you are referring to last as in the one before the most recent one (2021), add Gallo to the list.
Bad day Hay?
Players are doing far too much weight training and high intensity training with far too little elasticity work and stretching for a counterbalance. You don’t need to look like an action figure to play the game of baseball.
*Trevor Bauer has entered the chat*
No he hasn’t.
This could be a blessing in disguise. Bader was looking like Cashman’s latest man crush leading to another ridiculous extension that will haunt the team for years.
I think Bader would give them an incentive based one year contract to prove himself because he’s so excited to be a Yankee. I hope the guy heals quickly and has a great year for you.
Giancarlo will be next to go down. It is only ST but he is hitting .077 and looks lost at the plate with 6 K’s in (sss) 13PA. In his last 134pa (2022) he hit a putrid .151 with a laughable 64+ sOPS+. I’m a big fan but he needs a makeover and time is running short. He is too brittle to play the field (although when healthy he is a decent outfielder with a very good arm) and his contract makes him totally untradeable. A 38% K rate (post All Star Gm) means it is time for an extensive eye exam. Stanton needs plenty of PA to get going but he is being given minimal action. 18 other Yanks have more PA. Normally a post=season stud… he was just 6 for 34 last year. Something is broken.
Yankees: This will be our year
Opening day: Who the hell are these guys on the field I’ve never even heard of them before.
“Mr. Cashman, I have a Ben Cherington on line 1. Something about a Bryan Reynolds.”
Will he take Clint Frazier 1-1?
Or Miguel Andujar… of wait, Pirates already cut Andujar. Maybe Cashman can sign Andujar then trade him for Reynolds.
“No health concerns here. He’s good to sign or trade for.”
– Dr. Nick Riviera, Yankees team physician
Jacob Ellsbury’s little brother???
Wow. I guess the Yanks are getting their injuries out of the way early. Unreal
Rodon, Montas, Fat Nestor, Kahnle, Trivino, Bader. We all know Stanton will get hurt sometime soon. DJLM chose not to have surgery, so the Yankees must be hoping his foot holds together – he is one bad step away from falling apart. I’d love to see a total, epic collapse in NY. It would be fun to see Judge go down long term.
Put those talks on hold..
Just wait til the usual suspects get hurt, too…. judge, Stanton, hicks, dj, Sev…. gonna be a bad year, NY!