Despite the successful run that the New York Yankees are having up in the big leagues, there are plenty of players from the disabled list that are nearing their ready. It won’t be too long before the Yankees have some seriously interesting decisions to make.
While the New York Yankees have managed to win all but five games in the last calendar month, there is almost a full starting lineup getting themselves ready to make it back to the Bronx.
Among the eight Baby Bombers working their way back from injury, there are three outfielders (Clint Frazier, Jacoby Ellsbury, Billy McKinney), two infielders (Brandon Drury, Greg Bird) and three pitchers (Adam Warren, Tommy Kahnle, Jordan Montgomery). Just brutal. Just brutal. With so many names on the list to get to, let’s dive in.
Rail-Riding Red Thunder
When you consider how well the outfield quartet of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner have been performing, it’s almost insane to think that the highly-touted Clint Frazier(concussion) has yet to play an MLB game in 2018.
Despite that fact, Red Thunder has been tearing it up throughout his arduous rehab assignment. Between High-A Tampa and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Frazier has gone 20-for-62(.323) with four big flies. In fact, Frazier hooked his mom up with his impressive 3-for-5 with a homer Mother’s Day performance.
Clint Frazier’s third home run with the RailRiders and ninth XBH in 12 games. He’s also 2 for 2 with the pink bat. pic.twitter.com/vnxscpG9Nt
— Conor Foley (@RailRidersTT) May 13, 2018
Frazier was called up for the first time on Monday and will be on the roster for the Nationals series. He could see a pinch-hit opportunity as the Yankees will be playing under NL rules and pitchers will be forced to hit.
Drury Deliberations
if there is one person who knows exactly what Red Thunder is going through, it’s Brandon Drury.
Miguel Andujar's performance thus far has earned him more time in the big leagues. Yankees announce they've returned Brandon Drury from his rehab assignment (his 20 days were up today) and optioned him to Triple A.
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) May 14, 2018
Drury hit the DL with migraines that led to blurred vision a few weeks ago, just as the third baseman was starting to put things together at the plate. You know that Miguel Andujar is having some kind of impressive 2018 campaign when the Yankees feel comfortable sending a guy who had gone 17-for-54 (.315) with 17 RBI and 11 runs scored to Triple-A.
It will be very interesting to see where the Drury’s fate takes him. While he could be back in the Bronx before long, he and Frazier are also two very interesting pieces in a potential deal that could land the Yankees another quality starting pitcher. Unless there is some other catastrophic injury to Andujar or one of the four outfielders.
Bird & Billy
While Frazier and Drury were getting reacquainted in Scranton, Greg Bird and Billy McKinney are together in Trenton.
The Yankees also today officially transferred the rehab assignments of 1B Greg Bird (ankle surgery) and OF Billy McKinney (shoulder) to Double-A Trenton. They'll be playing in games at that level after having previously worked out in Tampa.
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) May 14, 2018
If there were ever a time to be in the Trenton area now would most certainly be that time, as you don’t get too many opportunities to see that kind of talent in the same venue that promotes “Thirsty Thursdays”. Bird is looking to prove that his late August-October run was the real deal, and McKinney is determined to prove that he belongs amongst the names of those atop the Yankees’ top prospect list.
We certainly look forward to getting your sweet swings back in the Bronx, fellas.
Warren Piece, Tommy Too
While the bullpen has been instrumental in getting the Yankees to the top of the division this past month, there’s no denying how much better they could be with the services of Adam Warren (back) and Tommy Kahnle (shoulder/biceps).
Tommy Kahnle and Adam Warren will travel to Tampa tomorrow. Warren is scheduled to throw off the mound on Monday.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 12, 2018
Both righties were dealing before they hit the shelf: Warren (8.1 IP, 11 K, 1 H), Kahnle (7.1 IP, 9 K, 2 H). We have seen what happens when manager Aaron Boone lets Dellin Betances go for more than one inning or Chad Green on consecutive nights, which is why the return of these two horses will help to make Yankee fans breath a little easier in the late innings of a close game.
Jacoby Who?
While we know that Jordan Montgomery (flexor strain) could miss up to eight weeks with the injury to his left elbow, the return of Jacoby Ellsbury seems a bit more inquisitive. On May 2, Yankees’ beat writer Bryan Hoch Tweeted this out from Aaron Boone about Ellsbury.
Jacoby Ellsbury, moved to the 60-day DL today, is hitting and running, He could be playing in a game within the next 10 days, Aaron Boone said.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 3, 2018
Again, Ellsbury has yet to sniff an at-bat in the big leagues this season. While the news of his DL transfer came almost two weeks ago, there’s no telling when or if we will see him back in the Big Apple.
It would be awesome if some team wanted to take on even a portion of that contract to bring him aboard to their club, but there just doesn’t seem to be any team with that lack of intelligence out there. Sure, the Yankees did seemingly force Alex Rodriguez into retirement a touch prematurely, but at least that dude got us a ring in 2009. Unless some unforeseeable about-face takes place, Ellsbury’s signing may go down as one of the worst in Yankee history.
Whether they are nearing deployment or just beginning their trek back, we are in store for some very interesting roster moves in the coming days and weeks in the Yankee Universe.