Injuries & Moves: Severino to return Sunday; Hamilton to IL
LATEST NEWS
May 17: RHP Luis Severino to be activated Sunday
Severino passed his latest test on Tuesday at Double-A Somerset, proclaiming himself ready for the Majors after tossing 58 pitches (39 for strikes) over 3 1/3 innings against Reading. Severino allowed two runs and six hits in the outing. His season debut has been scheduled for Sunday against the Reds in Cincinnati.
“He got hit a little bit, but I thought his first start in Scranton the time before was really good, really sharp,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “All the stuff was there. He was 95-98 [mph], slider, changeup. He looked healthy. I think he’s ready to go.”
May 17: RHP Ian Hamilton placed on IL; LHP Nick Ramirez recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Hamilton, who exited in the fourth inning after coming in for Domingo Germán following his ejection, was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right groin strain. Having a breakout season with the Yankees, the righty reliever has a 1.23 ERA in 22 innings, fanning 30 and walking just nine.
Ramirez is up with the big league club for the second time this year, posting a 2.84 ERA with four strikeouts in three relief appearances.
INJURY UPDATES
10-day and 15-day IL
RHP Ian Hamilton (right groin strain)
Expected return: TBD
Hamilton sustained a groin strain during the Yankees’ May 16 game at Toronto. He returned to New York for an MRI on May 17. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Hamilton experienced a similar groin strain about a year ago, and that Hamilton “feels like it’s akin to that.” Boone added that the initial injury “doesn’t seem overly serious.” (Last updated: May 17)
RHP Luis Severino (right lat strain)
Expected return: Sunday
Severino is set to be activated on Sunday in Cincinnati. He threw 58 pitches (39 for strikes) for Double-A Somerset on May 16 vs. Reading, permitting two runs and six hits over 3 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.
Severino began a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 10, throwing 49 pitches over 3 1/3 innings. Severino permitted two hits, including a solo home run on a changeup, while walking one and striking out three. He told the Scranton Times-Tribune that he felt "pretty good; I think all the pitches were working. Fastball command was really good." (Last updated: May 17)
LHP Carlos Rodón (left elbow strain, back stiffness)
Expected return: TBD
Rodón played catch without incident at distances up to 90 feet on May 17, and he will continue adding distance in the days to come. He received a cortisone injection on May 9 to address the lingering stiffness in his back. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on May 16 that "as of now, it doesn't look like" Rodón will need a second cortisone injection, though one had been scheduled just in case.
The lefty was seen by three specialists to determine the cause of the discomfort in his back (thoracic), which he has been told is “chronic.” Though Rodón had been tossing bullpen sessions with good velocity at the club’s complex in Tampa, Fla., he said that his control has been erratic. Rodón has told the club that he wants to continue throwing, but the Yankees are stressing a conservative approach.
The positive development is that Rodón’s elbow is healthy. He was diagnosed with a mild strain of the brachioradialis muscle in his left elbow after experiencing discomfort on March 5; he said he pitched through a similar issue last May with the Giants. Rodón began his throwing program on March 17. He was placed on the 15-day IL on March 30, retroactive to March 27. (Last updated: May 17)
OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton (left hamstring)
Expected return: Late May/June
Stanton “is getting real close” to a Minor League rehab assignment, manager Aaron Boone said on May 17, noting that Stanton has been able to resume full baseball activities. Stanton was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring, and Boone had said that the club was hopeful to have Stanton back “in six weeks,” which would be the week of May 28. Stanton felt his left hamstring grab as he pulled into second base with a double in the Yankees' 6-1 win over the Twins on April 15. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 16. (Last updated: May 17)
INF Oswald Peraza (right ankle sprain)
Expected return: Mid-May
Peraza began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 14. Manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees have been pleased “with the work he's been able to do and how he's moving,” so they wanted to get him back into game action. Peraza injured his ankle on a caught stealing at second base in the ninth inning of the Yankees' May 3 game against the Guardians and had not played since. He was placed on the injured list on May 9 (retroactive to May 6) and has been doing hitting, running and fielding drills throughout his absence. (Last updated: May 14)
3B Josh Donaldson (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: Late May
Donaldson began ramping up to full baseball activities on May 9, including taking batting practice at Yankee Stadium. Manager Aaron Boone expects that the infielder will spend about a week working out at that level, and if all goes according to plan, he’ll be able to start another Minor League rehab assignment at the end of that stretch.
“It’s going well,” Donaldson said on May 7. “I’d like to be back as early as possible, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to be smart about it.”
Donaldson was diagnosed with what Boone described as a “Grade 1-plus strain” of his right hamstring, ending his earlier rehab assignment. Donaldson took ground balls and batted on the field at Yankee Stadium on May 1. He went 1-for-3 in a Minor League rehab game on April 18 for Double-A Somerset but continued to experience tightness. Donaldson was placed on the 10-day IL, retroactive to April 6, after he exited an April 5 game. (Last updated: May 9)
60-day IL
RHP Tommy Kahnle (right biceps tendinitis)
Expected return: Late May/June
Kahnle is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session in Tampa, Fla., on May 18. Tentatively, Kahnle will throw live BPs on May 18 and May 21 in Tampa, then begin a Minor League rehab assignment. He will need at least four rehab appearances before he’s ready to return, per manager Aaron Boone, who said that "everything's gone according to plan right now." Kahnle experienced right biceps tendinitis early in Spring Training, prompting a March 21 cortisone injection. He said that he dealt with a similar issue in 2018. (Last updated: May 15)
RHP Frankie Montas (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: Possibly second half
Montas underwent arthroscopic surgery on Feb. 21 in Los Angeles, a procedure performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who cleaned up the hurler’s labrum. Montas said that he “for sure” expects to pitch in the big leagues this season. As of May 13, Montas was said to be doing well and nearing a throwing program. Recurring inflammation in the shoulder affected Montas last season with the Athletics and Yankees, and he said that he “wasn’t fully 100 percent” when New York acquired him in a six-player trade on Aug. 1. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 3. (Last updated: May 13)
RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (bone spur in right elbow)
Expected return: August/September
Loáisiga, who was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 10, underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur and loose bodies from his pitching elbow on May 2 in New York, a procedure that was performed by Dr. Christopher Ahmad. Surgery went as expected, manager Aaron Boone said. Loáisiga will not be able to throw for approximately three to six weeks. He experienced soreness in his right elbow before an April 7 game at Baltimore and was unable to resume throwing without discomfort. (Last updated: May 11)
RHP Lou Trivino (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Trivino will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on May 3 in Los Angeles, with Dr. Neal ElAttrache performing the procedure. Trivino experienced discomfort near his right elbow after an April live batting practice session, which shut him down from throwing. He saw team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad in New York on April 26 and traveled to Los Angeles for a second opinion on May 1. (Last updated: May 2)
RHP Scott Effross (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Effross underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2022 and began a throwing program on March 6. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on May 1 that Effross’ recovery is going well. Given the typical timeline of 12-18 months, Effross is expected to miss the entire 2023 season. He remained behind in Tampa, Fla., when the team headed north. Effross was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 30. (Last updated: May 1)
RHP Luis Gil (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Second half of 2023
Gil underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2022, and he's expected to return to the mound sometime during the second half of the ‘23 season. Gil’s recovery was said to be going well as of May 1. Gil resumed playing catch on Oct. 4 at the Yankees’ player development complex in Tampa, Fla., and he will continue his rehab. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 30. (Last updated: May 1)