Toronto – Fernando Cruz is once again on the injured list this season.
His first stint only lasted a minimum of 15 days, but on Monday, the Yankees were anxiously awaiting the MRI results to assess the severity of Cruz’s strain and the expected recovery time.
“It was pretty painful for him,” said Manager Aaron Boone at the Rogers Center on Monday.
Boone shared that Cruz felt an issue in his ankle while going through his warm-up routine with a medicine ball.
The silver lining is that the injury does not involve Cruz’s right shoulder, which had sidelined him for two weeks earlier this season due to inflammation. Still, this setback removes a critical strikeout option from Boone’s late-game bullpen for now.
“That’s part of it,” Boone commented. “Everyone will face some wear and tear from injuries over the course of the season. We have to navigate through it. I hope we can rise to the occasion in various situations.”
To cover Cruz’s spot in the bullpen, the Yankees have called up Jeff Hartlieve from Triple-A. Hartlieve impressed during spring training and held a 3.34 ERA over 24 games at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, showing he can pitch multiple innings.
A recent highlight is George Lombard being acknowledged among the top prospects in baseball.
Lombard will represent the Yankees at the upcoming All-Star Futures Game, part of All-Star Game Fest at Trust Park on July 12th.
The 20-year-old shortstop, who can also play second and third base, is one of the youngest players in Double-A after recent promotions. He started the year with a .329 batting average and a .983 OPS, stealing 11 bases in 24 games at High-A Hudson Valley, before moving to Somerset where he batted .209 with a .659 OPS and 14 steals in 48 games.
“I’m really excited about George,” Boone remarked. “I think he’s going to make a significant impact at this level. He’s a versatile player, a solid defender, and keeps improving at the plate. He’s becoming more physically impressive.”
“He has a passion for the game, works hard, and plays with intensity. He’s the kind of person who will enhance your team’s culture. He has such a special attitude about his growth.”
Lombard, drafted as the Yankees’ first-round pick in 2023, is regarded as their top prospect by most publications, with Baseball America listing him 20th among all baseball prospects.
Lewis Gill is set to hold a live batting practice session on Tuesday and may throw another one on Sunday or start his rehabilitation assignments.
