On Friday morning, the New York Yankees announced that first baseman Mark Teixeira was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to August 27. In a corresponding move, the team has recalled right-handed pitcher Nick Rumbelow from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
ROSTER MOVES: The @Yankees place 1B Mark Teixeira on 15-day D.L. (retroactive to 8/27) with a right shin bone bruise … (1/2)
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) September 4, 2015
Teixeira suffered the injury on August 17, as he fouled a pitch off the inside of his right knee during a game against the Minnesota Twins. After missing a few games due to the injury, the 35-year-old was inserted back into the starting lineup on August 25, but has only made one pinch hitting appearance since.
As the bone bruise has not healed the way the Yankees have expected, the team has been very cautious in dealing with Teixeira’s injury. The team announced a few days ago that Teixeira is likely to miss at least two more weeks, and even with the team placing him on the disabled list today, that timetable could still be very much in play for his return.
With the team placing him on the disabled list retroactive to August 27, Teixeira could become eligible to come off the disabled list in seven days, which would allow him to play in at least the final two games of a huge series against the Toronto Blue Jays. It is still unsure whether or not Teixeira will be healed by then, but the team hopes their first baseman will be back and healthy as the team looks to win the American League East Division title for the first time since 2012.
Before suffering the injury, Teixeira was having an outstanding season, posting a slash line of .255/.357/.548 in 111 games played. The gluten-free first baseman also has slugged 31 home runs and driven in 79 RBIs, and has made a huge impact in the middle of the Yankees’ lineup.
In his absence, it appears that young prospect Gregory Bird will continue to get the playing time at first base. With no true backup first baseman on the roster, guys such as Chase Headley, Brendan Ryan, or even Alex Rodriguez could see some playing time at first base if Bird needs a day off.
