It was a very rough Thursday for the Yankees.
In what has become a yearly tradition, the Bombers are set to begin the regular season with a lengthy injury list.
We already knew about pitchers Frankie Montas (shoulder surgery), Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis) and Lou Trivino (mild elbow ligament sprain) being shelfed.
But matters got much worse with the news that star pitcher Carlos Rodon will be shut down for 7 to 10 days with a concerning forearm strain.
The Yankees signed Rodon to a 6 year, $162 million deal this off-season.
Needless to say, this nagging forearm strain is not the news you want to hear if you’re a Yankee fan.
The good news is Rodon’s UCL is intact (he previously had Tommy John surgery in 2019) – but he will be closely monitored and the team will tread carefully.
General manager Brian Cashman said Rodon will return “some time in April” if all goes according to plan…
“He’s worth the wait.. He’s the real deal when he’s capable of providing it and not forcing something,” Cashman said.
“We know how good he is when he’s right.”
Rodon knows when it comes to the Yankees, it’s all about being healthy and performing your best in October…
“I’m not here to pitch until the All-Star break,” Rodon said. “I’m here to pitch well into October and whenever this team needs me – If it’s Oct. 5 or the ALDS, I’m taking the ball and going to pitch.”
“I’m hoping this goes by fairly quickly.. I can’t put a number on any of this. As far as how I feel, I feel better than I did after I threw against Atlanta, for sure. But as you know, some of these things take time.”
“I’m hoping it goes by quick, but you never know what happens down the road.”
Manager Aaron Boone took the disappointing news in stride…
“It’s a bummer,” Boone said. “But also sitting around waiting (Wednesday night) and getting the news today, it’s also a sigh of relief. I don’t think it’s going to be a long-term thing. Sucks for him and for us that he’s not gonna start the season with us, but hopefully it’s not too much after that.”
“Hopefully the timing of it is better now than at another point.”
Carl Pavano vibes.
— David Veloz (@David747Heavy) March 9, 2023
Adding insult to injury was the addition of center fielder Harrison Bader to the injury list.
His left oblique injury isn’t considered too serious, but Boone and company are crossing their fingers.
The baseball world reacted to the Yankees injuries on social media…
“Is this some kind of sick joke.”
Is this some kind of sick joke
— Karen Veenstra (@Karen_Veenstra) March 9, 2023
“Carlos Rodon injured. The lineup wasn’t improved at all (no retaining Judge and Rizzo doesn’t improve the offense, it just means they stood pat). Brian Cashman is utterly f*cking clueless and the cheap owner an absolute douche. Total moronic losers.”
Will they blame injures this year & everyone is safe in the organization
— Charles (@sck8182) March 9, 2023
“Literally every single player the Yankees have acquired in the last 6 months has gotten injured lmfao absolutely unreal. Montas, Benintendi, Trivino, Effross, Kahnle, Rodon, Bader.”
Literally every single player the Yankees have acquired in the last 6 months has gotten injured lmfao absolutely unreal. Montas, Benintendi, Trivino, Effross, Kahnle, Rodon, Bader
— Gabe (@PlayoffTanaka_) March 9, 2023
“Brian Cashman’s 2022 trade deadline / 2023 offseason summary Traded for Montas and Trivino/both injured Traded for Effross/injured Traded for Bader-injured Traded for Benintendi/white Sox Signed Kahnle/injured Signed Rodon-injured Launch baldman out of a cannon.”
Brian Cashman’s 2022 trade deadline / 2023 offseason summary
Traded for Montas and Trivino/both injured
Traded for Effross/injured
Traded for Bader-injured
Traded for Benintendi/white Sox
Signed Kahnle/injured
Signed Rodon-injured
Launch baldman out of a cannon
— the_stug0tz (@the_stug0tz) March 9, 2023
“And so it begins.”
And so it begins
— Freddie Juarez (@pab_lowe) March 9, 2023
“Carlos Rodon getting injured is not how I wanted the Clarke Schmidt vs Domingo German battle to be resolved. Both are going to start the season in the rotation lol.”
Carlos Rodon getting injured is not how I wanted the Clarke Schmidt vs Domingo German battle to be resolved. Both are going to start the season in the rotation lol.
— Sayom! (@SayomGD) March 9, 2023
“We got depth. We got German & Clark Schmidt” LOL you boys down horrendously bad
— Jose Altuve Comeback SZN (@strosstrosstros) March 9, 2023