NEWS FROM LATE STAGES
April 20: Kevin Smith, an outright INF, was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 27-year-old made his Yankees debut on April 14 against Cleveland in a pinch-runner role. The East Greenbush, New York, product played in major league baseball for the Athletics (2022–2023) and Blue Jays (2021).
April 19: Recalled RHP Cody Morris from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre; placed OF Taylor Trammell on the active roster; and placed RHP Nick Burdi on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to April 17) due to right hip soreness.
Manager Aaron Boone said that Burdi experienced some discomfort toward the end of his Tuesday game against the Blue Jays in Toronto, characterizing the problem as “pretty modest.”
Boone stated, “One of the major issues with Nick is that they don’t want him compensating because of his history of injuries, which then causes an arm issue.”
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10-DAY/15-DAY IL INF DJ LeMahieu (right foot non-displaced fracture)
Anticipated return: TBD On April 23, LeMahieu left a Minor League game against Double-A Somerset after one inning. The team then declared that LeMahieu would be examined in New York on April 24 because of right foot pain.
Prior to perhaps being activated on April 28, the Yankees had intended that LeMahieu would participate in four Minor League rehab games. However, those plans have since been altered. LeMahieu has been making an effort to heal from a non-displaced right foot fracture that he received on a foul ball on March 16. (Updated as of April 23.)
3B Jon Berti (injured left adductor)
Anticipated return date: May
After hurting his adductor while sprinting to first base against the Marlins on April 10, Berti was placed on the injured list on April 13. Berti has been collecting ground balls in Yankee Stadium during the team’s homestand. Berti is not faring behind DJ LeMahieu in his recuperation, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone; LeMahieu began a Minor League rehab assignment on April 23 and may be activated by April 29. (Updated as of April 23.)
R.H. Tommy Kahnle (inflammatory right shoulder)
Anticipated yield: Manager Aaron Boone stated that Kahnle needs one more bullpen session before facing hitters in a live setting, so it’s possible that he may toss from a mound again on April 19 in Tampa, Florida. Boone reported that he and Kahnle had texted back and forth, with Kahnle expressing excitement at his current physical state. He believes that things are approaching their proper state.
After right shoulder soreness terminated his 2023 season and postponed his winter throwing training until December 12, Kahnle was used sparingly in the spring. Even though Kahnle planned to return to the Yankees on April 9 when he was eligible, the team decided to postpone him further after he developed pain following a throwing practice on or around April 1. (Updated as of April 21.)
Oswald Peraza INF (strain of the right subscapular)
Anticipated yield: Manager Aaron Boone stated on April 21 that Pedroza is “deep into his throwing program” and has been hitting at the Yankees’ facilities in Tampa, Florida. However, he is still a few weeks away from participating in Minor League games. After experiencing shoulder soreness on February 25, Peraza started throwing consistently during the first week of April. Early in March, Peraza made a brief comeback to Spring Training play, but the problem continued when he threw across the diamond. (Updated as of April 21.)
RHP Nick Burdi (inflammatory right hip)
Anticipated return: Burdi experienced difficulty toward the end of his April 16 game against Toronto, as manager Aaron Boone described it as “pretty minimal.” Boone claimed that because to Burdi’s extensive history of injuries, club medical staff was concerned that the pitcher may overcompensate in his delivery, resulting in an arm problem. (Updated as of April 19)
60-DAY IL RHP Gerrit Cole (pain in right elbow)
Anticipated yield: Maybe on June 1st
At Yankee Stadium on April 23, Cole threw farther—120 feet—and reported feeling “excellent.” Cole’s progress has been gradual but constant. On April 8, he resumed his throwing routine and made 25 throws at 60 feet. He then had multiple more successful sessions on level ground. By early May, Cole could start throwing again from the side of a mound.
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