Let’s face it: Brendan Ryan has had really bad luck with injuries early on during 2015.
It all started in February during winter workouts. Ryan suffered a back strain that forced him to miss the beginning of spring training. As spring training was close to wrapping up, the 33-year-old was sidelined again, this time by a grade-two calf strain that had him carted off the field.
Sadly, it doesn’t end just there. As he began his rehab assignment, Ryan was forced to leave a game due to heat exhaustion. A few days later, Ryan pulled his hamstring, which has sidelined him ever since.
Hold your breath, Yankees fans: Ryan is working his way to get back on the field as we speak:
Brendan Ryan’s rehab has been moved to Triple-A. Girardi said they’ll bring him up after he plays back to back games.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) June 2, 2015
As Chad Jennings of LoHud.com tweeted, manager Joe Girardi said that he absolutely plan to activate Ryan once he was ready. Ryan will spend time with the Yankees’ Triple-A Affiliate Scranton/Wilkes Barre until he’s able to play back-to-back days, then it appears that he will rejoin the big league club.
Before the season started, Ryan was projected to be the team’s backup middle infielder. With his return, the Yankees will have to make a roster move to accommodate this move.
With the struggles of Stephen Drew and Jose Pirela, both could be candidates to be sent down to the minors (or even designated for assignment).
It appears more likely that Pirela is sent down, being that he has minor league options available. Drew, who has a one-year, $5 million dollar contract, has greatly struggled, but it doesn’t appear as if the Yankees are willing to pull the plug on this experiment just yet.
