BALTIMORE — All signs pointed to Josh Donaldson landing on the injured list Saturday. But the Yankees’ third baseman had company as Jonathan Loaisiga also hit the shelf in a series of roster moves.
Donaldson is on the 10-day IL with right hamstring tightness, an injury he sustained in Wednesday’s game against the Phillies. The veteran was not in Baltimore with the Yankees on Friday.
Loaisiga, meanwhile, is on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation. He and Donaldson are retroactive to April 6.
Boone knew something was up with the righty reliever prior to Friday’s game. The manager initially thought it was just a case of soreness, but exams revealed swelling in Loaisiga’s joint. The team sent him back to New York on Friday, where he had an MRI and saw Dr. Christopher Ahmad before receiving an injection Saturday.
The good news is that Loaisiga’s ligament is structurally sound. However, the pitcher won’t throw for a couple of weeks, though Boone is holding out hope for a shorter timeline.
Loaisiga, who had a 2.70 ERA over three appearances, is the Yankees’ latest high-leverage reliever to be placed on the injured list, joining Lou Trivino (elbow sprain) and Tommy Kahnle (bicep tendinitis).
“We’ve got a lot of good pitchers and it’s just on everyone to kind of step up,” Boone said of the absences. “This creates more significant opportunities for more people.”
Kahnle was placed on the 60-day injured list Saturday, though Boone said the move was a logistical one and not a new setback. The manager added that Kahnle is currently on track for rehab games in early or mid-May.
Trivino, meanwhile, recently threw a bullpen.
As for Donaldson, Boone said he is feeling good after hitting and running in New York.
“I think it’s pretty minor,” Boone said, adding that he believes Donaldson will only miss about 10 days. The hope is that he doesn’t need a minor-league rehab assignment.
The Yankees added outfielder Willie Calhoun to the active roster in Donaldson’s place. Jhony Brito, Saturday’s starter, was also recalled.
Shortstop prospect Oswald Peraza has missed a few games at Triple-A due to a tight right hamstring.
“I don’t think it’s a big deal,” Boone said.
When asked if a healthy Peraza would have been the move for Donaldson, Boone smiled and said, “that’s speculative.”
Boone also said that he hopes center fielder Harrison Bader (oblique) can get into some rehab games in the next week to 10 days.
Anthony Volpe — who won the Yankees’ shortstop job over Peraza in spring training — took a 3-for-21 start to his major league career into Saturday’s game. However, Boone is not sweating the 21-year-old’s performance and dismissed any concerns about the neophyte.
“We believe in the player, but as much as that, we believe in the person,” Boone said. “So anytime a guy comes up, you realize the chance for struggles, and I don’t even want to call it that. We’ve played seven freakin’ games out of 162. So it’s overreaction on overdrive.”
()