Days away from spring training 2.0 and injury updates are rolling in from Brain Cashman. The Yankees had quite a long injury list when baseball shut down operation in March. Both Severino and Paxton where going to be out of the rotation. Stanton was dealing with a calf strain, Judge a rib injury and Hicks a TJS as well. But things have changed in the last 4 months and are looking up on the injury front.
Pitchers
Luis Severino was expected to miss the entirety of the 2020 season after undergoing Tommy John in the off-season. This unfortunately remains true but it seems that he’s the only one expected to stay out of the rotation this season. James Paxton was slated to miss 3-4 months after back surgery in February. Paxton was back to throwing by March and has continued to put the work in while the season has been on hold. In May, Paxton told Meredith Marakovits he’d be ready to go and that his back wouldn’t be any issue for 2020. Even more recently Cashman announced that Paxton will enter summer camp “ready to go.”
"I'll be ready to go."
James Paxton’s back is "a non-issue" and he's ready to rejoin the Yankees rotation when the season begins, he tells @M_Marakovits. #YESWereHere pic.twitter.com/fW1uyts9WP
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 22, 2020
Outfielders
News of Giancarlo Stanton, who was dealing with a right calf strain in February, came from Cashman today. Stanton has had a few set backs but according to Cashman he could absolutely be ready to put the bat on the ball come opening day, but maybe not patrol an outfield position. He has yet to see outfield drills so we’ll likely see him DH to start the season.
Giancarlo Stanton has been out since late February with a right calf strain. Brian Cashman said that Stanton should be a full go as a DH option, but he hasn't done any outfield drills yet.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) June 30, 2020
Aaron Hicks might just be the first person to have Tommy John and not miss a single game of baseball. Hicks underwent his surgery immediately after the 2019 season leaving plenty of time for recovery and practice. Hicks himself certainly thinks he’s ready to get going on opening day.
Brian Cashman on Aaron Hicks:
“I’m sure he thinks he’ll be game-ready by Opening Day, and I think that’s possible.” #Yankees
— Bronx Bombers News (@NewsBronx) June 30, 2020
Cashman agrees. With all the extra time and work Hicks has put in during the shut down it seems very realistic we will see him in center most of, if not all, of the season.
Brian Cashman added (barring no setbacks over the next 3 weeks) he expects James Paxton, Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton to be good to go as well #yankees
— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) June 30, 2020
Aaron Judge is the last big question mark for opening day. The mysterious rib injury saga has been interesting to say the least, but it seems things are finally starting to look up. Although Cashman doesn’t sound as confident about Judge as he doesn’t about the rest of the injury crew, all hope isn’t lost. Cashman is “optimistic” about the speedy return of Judge.
"There is optimism" that Aaron Judge will be ready for July 23, #Yankees GM Brian Cashman said.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) June 30, 2020
Of course all of these updates come barring re-injury or set back over the next 3 weeks but it seems that the Yankees will come into the 2020 season more healthy than they originally thought.
