Josh Donaldson made an early exit from the Yankees’ game on Wednesday due to right hamstring tightness, and still didn’t play in Friday’s 7-6 loss to the Orioles even with the benefit of an extra recovery day due to a rainout on Thursday. Prior to Friday’s game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told ESPN’s Marly Rivera and other reporters that Donaldson would “likely” require a trip to the 10-day injured list, even if the hamstring issue is minor enough that the third baseman didn’t receive imaging.
“[We] don’t feel like it’s too serious, but enough in there that it would probably knock him down for four or five days,” Boone said. “So, we’re going to likely be cautious in this situation. Looks like it’s probably shorter than [ten days], but probably err on the side of caution in this month of April.”
Since the Yankees are calling right-hander Jhony Brito up from Triple-A to start today’s game in Baltimore, it seems logical that Donaldson’s IL placement will be the corresponding move for Brito’s return to the majors. Brito looked very impressive in his Major League debut, allowing two hits and a walk over five shutout innings in New York’s 6-0 win over the Giants on April 2. In terms of replacing Donaldson at third base, the Yankees have plenty of depth — Boone said DJ LeMahieu “will get the bulk of” work at third base, with Oswaldo Cabrera and Isiah Kiner-Falefa also in the mix.
The IL stint might effectively act as a reset to Donaldson’s season, as he has hit only .125/.176/.313 with one home run in his first 17 plate appearances. While a small sample size, it isn’t an encouraging follow-up to Donaldson’s underwhelming 2022 season. The Yankees naturally have plenty of incentive (i.e. the $29MM owed on Donaldson’s contract) in getting the former AL MVP on track, but since LeMahieu is already an everyday option without a set position, Donaldson won’t find himself part of New York’s first-choice lineup unless he can get going at the plate.
WOW the New York Baseball teams are truly having a Issue with Injuries.
Maybe somebody should look Into the ways that the players are training during the year
Strained and pulled obliques and hamstrings have become the norm in baseball. There is definitely something in the training and conditioning that’s causing this.
MLWD
Major League Walking Dead…
World War B
World War Baseball!
Is there any statistical evidence that there are more soft tissue injuries now than in the past? Sounds like you’re making things up based on recency bias.
I raised that question with the WBC. For all the complaining, does anyone know whether more players were hurt in the WBC or in ST?
There may be some recency bias on the hamstrings but I’ve never seen as many oblique issues as I have the last year or so. But no, I don’t have statistical evidence.
The apparent increase in injuries compared to past decades, particularly obliques and other core muscle strains, makes me wonder the extent to which players had them in the past but played through them and either had terrible seasons or worse, severe career performance declines.
Donaldson plus a 12-18 prospect are available for a 17 year old Dominican leaguer and one-third salary relief. Submit your bids now.
I’m pretty sure they’re not getting anyone to take on to much of his contract at the moment. With the kind of attitude he exhibits at times plus barely hitting anything, it’d have to be a REALLY good prospect for someone to take on anything more than league minimum in salary, knowing the Yankees may just cut him. Gallo at least had a few things going for him still, although not much. Donaldson has probably nothing that would tempt anyone to take him on. But maybe someone will send over a dollar lol
I don’t wish injury on anyone but his 125/176/313 slash line ain’t going to be missed.
The only thing Donaldson does well these days is celebrate when somebody else on the team does something great.
Josh is 1 of the most underrated and underappreciated players in MLB, so of course the Yankees will mismanage it.
That doesn’t even make sense. Your trolling needs work.
And the inevitable press conference where brian cashman tries to pathetically explain why he ruined the career of yet another young player.
Huh?
Are you mistakening JD for Estevan Florial? I can see the resemblance.
A) Josh Donaldson got plenty of respect WHEN performing
B ) Josh Donaldsons health history was always what held him back from mega contracts, but when you’re also not hitting squat, it doesn’t help.
C) I don’t think he qualifies as a young player anymore. He’s 37. He’s right around that declining age that teams always worry about handing out contracts to.
D) With his health history and age, it’s likely just that this was the natural decline he was on.
60 days, out of abundance of caution. Then re-evaluate, and 60 days more.
And then 60 more just to keep him safe from himself
Time for teams to just eat the money on the bad deals, and let them go. New York Donaldson, and Detroit’s Schoop. You have to pay both anyways, but why have them take up space because of it. Time to move on.
Only problem is Hicks needs to go before JD and cutting bait on two players is not as easy for the guy signing the checks.
I’m hoping Tyler Nevin replaces Schoop in Detroit, and sure N.Y. also has guys being blocked, but the move to the D.L will give someone there a shot right away.
DJ LeMahieu at 3B allows the Yankees to put their best team on the field. We all agree that IKF should be traded. For some reason, some players don’t perform well in NY. IKF is better than he shows. I feel IKF would be a better player in SFG.
Unless there’s a big turn of events, there’s no doubt that both Aaron Hicks and Jonathan Schoop will not be playing for their current teams much after all star break whether they’re cut or traded.
Hicks will be gone when Bader comes off the IL, not after AS break bud.
Yes I think your right. I’m surprised by Detroit’s play, they look better at the plate, and the moves Harris made getting guys has worked out well. So I[m more buoyant on the Tigers since the opening series in Tampa.
I know a Dr who guarantees he can find a tear in JD’s hammy…cash only.
Yes! I saw him on an episode of the Golden Girls. Pretty sure his name is Dr. Jerry
Seriously though, the Yanks need to send down a P and add a position player because they are already at 13 P’s w/o Brito. Likely Hamilton down and Peraza up unless there’s a DL/40 man move coming.
If they bring up Peraza it will mean putting him on the bench. Better to let him stay in AAA and keep getting reps. Unless they decide to play him.
Why can’t he just assume Donaldson’s PA’s? He can also give Volpe the breather he needs at SS. Peraza’s role is depth right now. There’s an injury and he’s needed. He played pretty well last year not starting much, no?
You really think a player in Peraza’s position wants to spend a day more in AAA than he has to even if it’s temporary?
If they play him, absolutely bring him up. If he’s just going to ride pine let him stay down. He didn’t have a noteworthy spring and he needs to play. Even if that means he stays down this time. And remember, JD is only supposed to miss a few games. They will probably retroactive his IL which means it will be over by the end of next week.
Bc DJL plays there. I think Volpe just needs to keep getting ABs, not rest. This injury means we’re gonna see Hicks/Cordero more in the OF and IKF as INF backup.
Then what position players is being added. Only Peraza and Periera are on the 40
Nobody now. They still have Cabrera who can cover 2B. Just have a short bench for now til we see what happens with JD. It may be a short IL-stint for him.
Brito can go back down after tonight. Would it be cruel if they recalled Florial again?
Aaron Hicks: “Hold my beer….”
Big Sexy can play a little third and DH in between starts.
Make That Call!
This seemed like a planned injury to help the rotation. Thoughts?
I would guess that most modern players grew up playing on select travel teams and played tons of baseball every summer. It’s been speculated before that this may explain the arm issues so many pitchers have now as well as so many players with oblique issues. I would like to see a study comparing players injury histories in proportion to how many games they played, innings pitched, etc. in their formative years. Baseball history is littered with pitchers that threw 200-300 innings a season, year after year. I understand that modern pitchers are treated more delicately due to guaranteed contracts. Teams make these huge investments and need to protect them. Modern pitchers just seem more “breakable” than they used to be.
7 billion dollar franchise and they don’t know how to promote proper strength and conditioning. When fans at home can identify bad trades before they happen and horrendous developmental albeit minor leagues players or strength and conditioning of major league players it begs the question if we’re not all being played for fools and sporting organizations are more about entertainment then actual sports itself.