While the Yankees prepared for their first day of full-squad workouts, Brett Gardner didn’t participate in batting practice. Apparently, he’s still dealing with an injury he suffered during last October’s AL Wild Card game against the Astros.
According to Chad Jennings of LoHud Yankees Blog, Gardner suffered a bone bruise in his left wrist after chasing down an Evan Gattis fly ball against the right-centerfield wall. Gardner notified GM Brian Cashman in the weeks after that the wrist was bothering him, so the Yankees sent him for a CT Scan which revealed a bone bruise.
Cashman said Gardner only took dry swings this winter, and that they’ll “stagger him along” this spring because there’s still plenty of time before the start of the season. He also noted that the wrist is better than it was, and no more CT Scans are scheduled. The Yankees desperately need a healthy Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury at the top of the order.
Gardner dealt with an injury to his other wrist for most of last season, which may have contributed to his poor play in the second half. Aaron Hicks is ready to step in if Gardner isn’t able to heal quickly enough.
