SEATTLE – Harrison Bader is back on the shelf.
The Yankees placed the center fielder on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday after an MRI revealed strain in his right hamstring. Franchy Cordero was called up in place of Bader shortly before the first pitch against the Mariners.
Bader left Monday’s game after dropping a field single in the third inning. He ran hard to first base but left after some stretching and a quick chat with Aaron Boone and coach Mike Schuk.
Bader, who started the season on the IL with an oblique injury sustained in spring training, has been a backbone for the Yankees since making his season debut on May 2. Along with playing elite defense, the looming free agent is hitting .267 with an .806 OPS, two triples, six homers, 19 RBIs and five stolen bases in 26 games.
Bader has played just 40 regular season games — in addition to nine playoff games — since being acquired from the Cardinals last August in a deal that sent Jordan Montgomery to St. Louis. Bader was recovering from plantar fasciitis at the time of the trade.
While losing Bader hurts the Yankees in the middle of the diamond, the return of Jose Trevino helps in that regard. The Yankees activated the receiver on Tuesday. Trevino hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury on May 17.
The Yankees demoted compatriot Ben Rortvedt to make room for Trevino.
RIZZO FEELS BETTER
Anthony Rizzo stayed out of the Yankees lineup on Tuesday, but the first baseman said he was improving. He left Sunday’s win over the Padres with a stiff neck following a collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. during an awkward early draft play.
“I feel a lot better than yesterday. My neck was really stiff yesterday. As far as my head goes, it seems totally normal,” Rizzo said. “I’m just taking it day by day.”
When asked if he had been checked for a concussion, Rizzo jokingly added, “I don’t remember.”
Rizzo hopes he can return to action on Wednesday or, preferably, Friday after the Yankees rest on Thursday. He said he could contribute on Tuesday if needed, but felt it best to play it safe at this stage of the season.
When asked if he had a problem with how Tatis Jr. returned to the sack on Sunday, Rizzo said he didn’t know and had no comment on it. He did, however, call the piece “bizarre” and “surprising”. He didn’t expect it to be a bang-bang play or for the Padres star to come on his feet.
But Rizzo also felt lucky to only have to deal with a grumpy neck after suffering pain during the match.
“I got hit by a pretty strong individual,” Rizzo said. “I mean, it could have been a lot worse. So thankful there was no concussion or anything like that.
SOMERSET REHABILITATION
The Somerset Patriots, a Double-A affiliate of the Yankees, welcomed rehabilitators Josh Donaldson (hamstring), Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) and Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendonitis) on Tuesday.
Boone said the plan was still to have Kahnle join the Los Angels squad later this week, while Donaldson said he planned to do the same, for example. Athletic’s Brendan Kuty.
As for Stanton, Boone said “we’ll see” when asked how many rehab games the slugger would need. Stanton and Donaldson will have a full day of work at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, while the Patriots will have a game in the morning.
DOMINGO NIGHT BASEBALL
Boone said the Yankees will start Luis Severino, Gerrit Cole and Domingo German against the Dodgers, in that order. Eponymously, German will be on the mound for ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.
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