Updates On Yankees Pitchers' Returns From Injury

Yankees Manager Aaron Boone on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Jason Schott.

On Wednesday afternoon, Yankees Manager Aaron Boone, in his pregame comments ahead of their doubleheader with Baltimore, gave updates on the progress of their top reliever Dellin Betances and starters James Paxton and Jonathan Loaisiga.

Below is a report on each pitcher and what the skipper had to say about the progress and their rehabs and what he sees going forward:


BETANCES: On Thursday morning, the Yankees placed reliever Dellin Betances on the 60-day injured list last Thursday.
Betances, who has been out since spring training with a shoulder injury, began a throwing program last week at Yankee Stadium.
On Monday, May 6, after he made 25 throws from 60 feet on flat ground, the big right-hander said he expects to be back at the end of May at the earliest.

Betances was out throwing in right field on Wednesday morning, with Pitching Coach Larry Rothschild by his side.

Dellin Betances throwing in right field on Wednesday morning. Photo by Jason Schott.

Boone said on Wednesday afternoon about the progress the big right-hander is making, ”He was out to 90 feet today, I actually just saw him a few minutes ago, said it went really well. He continues to progress, I don't know when he's scheduled to get on the mound, I know this is probably about his fourth day of throwing, maybe, but out to 90 feet, so he's going to obviously have to get out to, you know, 120 (feet) would be the next one, and then you start to get him on the mound and ramp up from there. But, so far, everything's gone pretty well and today was another good step."

PAXTON: The Yankees placed left-handed starting pitcher James Paxton on the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation on Saturday, May 4.
The move came after He had to leave Friday, May 3’s game against Minnesota in the third inning with what was diagnosed with left knee soreness.
Paxton, is in his first year with the Yankees and he has a record of 3-2 with a 3.11 ERA.
Boone said of Paxton on Wednesday and what the next step is, "Still not necessarily a rehab start. Today was encouraging that he came in today after a bullpen (on Tuesday) and woke up this morning and felt good. So, he played catch today, or is getting ready to, and the plan is he'll throw a bullpen on Friday, and then, if everything goes well at that point, then we'll hopefully be in a position to make a decision on something."

LOAISIGA: When the Yankees acquired first baseman/dedignated hitter Kendrys Morales on Tuesday, they had to make room for him on the 40-man roster.
In a corresponding move, they transferred right-handed pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Loaisiga was originally placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday (retroactive to 5/10) with a right shoulder strain.
Boone said of the 24-year old pitcher on Wednesday afternoon, "I think that (move to the 60-day IL) was just, obviously we needed that spot, knowing that he's not going to throw for four weeks, it's just probably, my understanding is, with the inflammation in the rotator cuff, it is that, and it's four weeks down and then build you back up. Always a concern when a pitcher goes down with an injury, but right now, I'm treating it as what it is on its face, which is the shutdown and then, hopefully, he's able to build back up and be a factor for us this season."
Loaisiga has pitched in four games, including three starts, this season, and he is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA. He has thrown 14 innings, allowing 13 hits, 7 runs (all earned), and 8 walks, and struck out 13.
His one win came on April 24 when he made a relief appearance in Anaheim, and he threw three shutout innings (2 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout) to allow the Yankees to come from 5-0 down and win 6-5.
Boone said of possibly using Loaisiga as a reliever when he returns, "That could certainly be a factor, definitely. It kind of depends where you are, obviously, at that point in the season. You know, we're probably talking about at least a couple of months now before he's an option to get back with us. A lot can change between now and then as far as what our needs are, where we determine he's at, so all those things will kind of factor into what kind of role he has for us, potentially, in the second half of the season."