The Yankees initially expected Josh Donaldson back by now.
But after one rehab game at Double-A Somerset on Tuesday, the third baseman is on the mend again. Donaldson reaggravated his right hamstring injury that night. On Friday, Aaron Boone said that a new MRI revealed a “Grade 1-plus” strain, which will keep him out for the next couple of weeks.
“He’s doing pretty well,” Boone said Friday before the Yankees’ game against the Blue Jays. “He’s getting around pretty well, but there is something in there.”
Donaldson initially went on the injured list on April 8 with what the Yankees called tightness in his hammy.
On Tuesday, Donaldson felt the injury again while making a throw early in the game. He stayed in long enough for three at-bats — Donaldson picked up a hit — but he wasn’t happy with his ability to run.
“I was able to stay in and kind of manage it,” Donaldson said Wednesday. “But it was one of those ordeals where there were probably things that I would have liked to feel better about.”
Donaldson and Boone thought Tuesday’s chilly weather in Somerset may have had a negative impact after some warm days coincided with the start of the veteran ramping up baseball activities in the Bronx.
Donaldson, 37, appeared in five major league games before getting hurt. He had one home run and .125 average. Oswald Peraza played third base Friday for the first time, giving the Yankees another option at the hot corner during Donaldson’s absence.
“Everything was progressing really nice,” Donaldson said. “Obviously, I’m bummed out that I felt like it was gonna be any day now. But just kind of take it day by day and hopefully, this gets ironed out.”
Over the offseason, Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said he would never sign with the Yankees, “not even dead.”
On Friday, Guerrero was asked about that comment and explained that his feelings stem from personal/family matters, though he didn’t elaborate. However, the slugger doubled down on his stance.
“I will never change that,” Guerrero said.
It wasn’t that long ago that the Yankees lacked versatility. Now multiple players on the roster can move all over the diamond. Only listing positions played so far in 2023 — some of the following names have played elsewhere in recent years or in spring training — that includes Peraza (2B/3B/SS), DJ LeMahieu (1B/2B/3B), Oswaldo Cabrera (2B/3B/SS/LF/RF), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (3B/CF) and Aaron Judge (CF/RF).
“It’s been nice,” Boone said. “We’ve kind of worked hard over the last couple of years to develop and create more flexibility within the roster. With the four-man bench, to have multiple guys that can go to a lot of different places gives you some real flexibility. It’s paid off for us so far and shown up so far.”
Per Boone, Luis Severino (lat) felt good Friday after throwing live and in the bullpen on Thursday. The plan is for him to throw another live session Sunday and during the middle of next week in Tampa.
Carlos Rodon’s CT scan came back “pretty normal,” and Boone believes the issue is just the result of him sleeping on his back funny. On Thursday, Boone said Rodon won’t throw for a few days. He originally hit the shelf with a left forearm strain early in spring training.
Jonathan Loaisiga (right elbow inflammation) threw on the field at Yankee Stadium on Friday. Boone said he needs a few weeks to build up before throwing live sessions.
Boone added that Harrison Bader’s rehab assignment for an oblique, which began Friday in Somerset, will last a couple weeks.
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