The 2023 Yankees have endured a lot of injuries to key players. Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Harrison Bader, Jonathan Loaisiga, Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes Jr have all spent significant time on the injured list, leading to a disastrous summer for the defending American League East champions.
The news gets more hectic for the Yankees as third baseman Josh Donaldson – who has already missed significant time early this season with a hamstring issue – got some bad news yesterday about his calf injury he suffered in Colorado during their recent west coast road trip.
The former American League Most Valuable Player learned that the strain in his calf is worse than the team originally thought as he told the media that it is a grade three strain, or more likely torn, after undergoing tests prior to the team’s series against the Angels this past week.
If the calf muscle is torn, it is more than likely that Donaldson will not suit up again until next year and it will most likely not come as a Yankee since he will be a free agent at the end of the season. The recovery time on a grade three calf muscle injury can take anywhere from two to four months.
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Donaldson will be someone missed in the Yankee lineup due to his elite defensive skill set at third base and his ferocious competitiveness that you can’t teach anyone. This also could mark the end of an impressive career as his contract is up at the end of the season and it would be hard to believe that anyone will take a chance on him after posting bottom of the barrel numbers in 2023.
Another big piece hit the season ending Injured List as well after the conclusion of the west coast road trip as Platinum Glove winner Jose Trevino will undergo season ending wrist surgery.
The Yankees announced the news about Trevino’s injury prior to their home series this weekend against the Kansas City Royals.
“It’s very frustrating.” said Trevino to Brian Hoch of MLB.com, “I want to be out there. I want to play; I love to play. I love to catch, I love to wear the pinstripes. There’s nothing more than I want to do than go out there and play, but at this point, I’m not helping anybody.”
The 30 year old catcher from Corpus Christi, Texas had injured his wrist during spring training. He has been playing through the injury all season but he has seen a significant drop in his offensive numbers from last season to this season. He is slashing a measly .210/.257/.312 with an OPS+ of 57 (League average is 100).
Trevino is expected to be back in 2024 with the team as their defensive anchor behind the plate and his elite defense will most certainly be missed for the rest of the season. Ben Rortvet will be called up to replace Trevino on the Major League roster and he will split time with Kyle Higashioka behind the plate for the remainder of the year.