The latest update on injured Yankees as season nears

MLB

From Gregory Joyce

March 28, 2023 | 11:07 p.m

WASHINGTON — When the Yankees finished their stay in Tampa on Monday to fly north for the regular season, a handful of their injured players stayed behind to continue injury rehabilitation.

The Yankees have made their mark this spring, with five expected members of the opening-day roster starting the season from injured-list injuries and another from surgery.

Here’s a rundown of where these players stood when the Yankees broke camp:

– As of Monday, Harrison Bader had not picked up a bat after straining the left oblique on March 8.

The Yankees originally budgeted a roughly six-week timeline for his return, with Wednesday marking three weeks.

Bader, who headed to New York to start the season with the team, said he’s feeling better although he hasn’t tried any swings yet. He hoped that day would come soon.

“Just keep progressing and then hopefully get to a point where I feel really good and I’ll get sent out of there and then I’ll come back as soon as we all see fit,” Bader said.

– Likewise, Tommy Kahnle still wasn’t throwing after receiving a cortisone shot for his right biceps tendonitis last Tuesday.

The injection came with a 48- to 72-hour shutdown period, after which the Yankees hoped to ramp it up again, but Kahnle said Monday he has yet to start a throwing program.

The right aide was initially taken off for 10 days from March 3, but still had discomfort when he started throwing again.

Kahnle has dealt with biceps tendonitis several times in his career, but this case seems to be taking him longer to recover.

“I think maybe it’s going to take a little bit slower just because I’m a little bit older,” said Kahnle, who expected to be with the Yankees at least until the season opener. “But it’s definitely the same feeling I got every time I got it. So it’s taking a little longer than expected. But it’s not the worst case scenario.”

– Colleague Lou Trivino, meanwhile, has already started his throwing program and stayed behind in Tampa to continue his rehab.

But Trivino’s build-up could take longer because of his injury — what the Yankees called a minor sprain of the elbow ligament in his throwing arm.

Trivino confirmed on Monday the tape was at his UCL, which is why he is being treated more carefully.

General manager Brian Cashman predicted a return for Trivino in May when he announced the injury in early March.

“I would love it if it was the end of April,” said Trivino, who expected to start throwing the mound soon. “If it were up to me, it would be now. … It is not [a major injury], but I understand it. I’m a guy who throws way too much, so sometimes it’s good to save myself from myself. But it is near.”

— Luis Severino (strained right lat) was still ruled out of the throw on Tuesday, but the right-hander traveled to Washington with the team. He and the Yankees have said they don’t expect him to miss more than three or four starts. … After throwing a bullpen session Monday that involved ball breaking, lefthand Carlos Rodon (left forearm muscle strain) stayed in Tampa to continue his comeback.

– Right-handers Frankie Montas (right shoulder surgery) and Scott Effross (Tommy John surgery) both stayed in Tampa to continue their respective rehabs. Efross began a pitching program in early March, while Montas is expected to be banned from pitching for another seven weeks.