New York Yankees: Injury Woes Continue to Prevent Team From Living Up to Their Potential
The past few seasons for Yankees fans have been disappointing, to say the least. Coming so close yet so far to their first appearance since they won the World Series 14 seasons ago in 2009, the Yankees have continued to battle many persistent issues that still plague the team today. Aside from trying to find the right starting rotation and bullpen, the Yankees literally have become their own worst enemy. Injuries continue to be a key issue when it comes to the Yankees’ success, and the frustration among fans is extremely justifiable.
This past April was the worst performing season the Yankees had since April 2016. Finishing out the month of April, the Yankees were 23rd in all of Major League Baseball. In 2016, the month of April wasn’t kind to the Yanks, as they were 27th in the league. It’s not a surprise that the Yankees are struggling when you take a look at the Injured List as of May 13th:
A. Hicks (OF): Day to Day: Hip
J. Donaldson (3B): 10-Day IL: Hamstring
G. Stanton (OF/DH): 10-Day IL: Hamstring
O. Peraza (3B): 10-Day IL: Ankle
C. Rodon (SP): 15-Day IL: Back
L. Severino (SP): 15-Day IL: Lat
S. Effross (RP): 60-Day IL: Elbow - Out for season
L. Gil (SP): 60-Day IL: Elbow
J. Loaisiga (RP): 60-Day IL: Elbow
T. Kahnle (RP): 60-Day IL: Biceps
F. Montas (SP): 60-Day IL: Shoulder
L. Trivino (RP): 60-Day IL: Elbow - Out for season
Just taking a glance at this list, you can see what the most persistent issues are. Almost all of the Yankees pitchers on the IL have an upper arm injury, and all fielders have leg/back injuries. Arguably, some of the Yankees' key players are on the IL, such as Outfielder/Designated Hitter
Giancarlo Stanton, or Pitcher Carlos Rodon, who the Yankees recently acquired over the off-season. Fan-favorite and Yankees Captain Aaron Judge recently came off the Injured List himself after dealing with a hip issue.
Compared to last season, the Yankees really are off to a slow start, raising concerns among fans. In their first 40 games of this season, the Yankees’ record was 22-18. This time last season, the Yanks were 29-11. Aaron Judge also was heating up this time last year, with an OPS of 1.111, more than .300 higher than where Judge stands now. Judge, though, remains optimistic. “Each year is so different. Sometimes you have a hot start and cool off in the middle,” Judge told reporter Josh Goldberg. “Other years, you start slow, and you deal with that.”
The Yankees are looking to turn their season around as Hicks could return within the next few games, as well as Kahnle, Stanton, Donaldson, Severino, and Peraza aim to return within the next two weeks. The Yankees most definitely have a World-Series-worthy team, as they’ve proven over the past few seasons. They just need to stay healthy in order to get to the final round of the Postseason.