Yankees injury update: Adam Warren placed on the disabled list, Greg Bird headed to Tampa soon

The hits just keep coming. It’s starting to feel like the Yankees are required to place two players on the disabled list for every one player who is activated. The Yankees got CC Sabathia back this week, but lost Tommy Kahnle, Luis Cessa, and Adam Warren to injuries. The bullpen has struggled enough without the added misfortune of half the staff being hurt. Here is the latest on how everyone is doing, and who is close to returning.

Adam Warren

Prior to today’s game, the Yankees announced that they called up Jonathan Holder and placed Warren on the disabled list. Warren pitched two and two-thirds innings last night and didn’t seem to suffer an injury in the game, but he is dealing with a right back strain.

Tommy Kahnle

Kahnle hasn’t pitched well this season, but just a few days ago he dismissed concerns about his velocity. He claimed that his issues were mechanical and that he was working on it. Surprise, he is actually injured. The Yankees placed Kahnle on the DL with shoulder and bicep tendinitis on Tuesday. He will be shut down for ten days, and he’s expected to miss at least three weeks. On the plus side, the injury explains his early struggles.

Greg Bird

It has only been a few weeks since Bird had surgery to remove a bone spur from his ankle, but he is pleased with his progress so far. He jogged on the field on Thursday and Friday, and is expected to hit in the cage on Monday before heading to Tampa late next week. If everything continues to go according to plan, Bird could get some live at-bats the first week of May.

Brandon Drury

More good news: Drury was on the infield running the bases this morning. He has been on the disabled list since early April when he admitted that he was dealing with blurred vision and migraines. It sounds like they’re still unclear as to what is causing his symptoms, but Drury said that the blurred vision has gone away.

Luis Cessa

We’re just three weeks into the season, and Cessa has already been a frequent passenger on the Scranton Shuttle. The Yankees called him up on Tuesday, he pitched in that game, then exited with a left oblique strain. He will likely be sidelined for a few weeks.

Jacoby Ellsbury

The Ellsbury injuries are getting to be ridiculous. He originally landed on the disabled list after suffering an oblique strain early into spring training. A couple of weeks ago, the Yankees revealed that Ellsbury had a hip injury that required him to get a cortisone shot. Now he has plantar fasciitis. Who knows if he will ever play a game this season.

Clint Frazier

Though Frazier has not been medically cleared to play games yet, he has been working out with the Tampa team, taking batting practice, and working on defensive plays. Live at-bats should be coming soon. Once he has been activated from the DL, he is expected to join the RailRiders.

Billy McKinney

McKinney has been on the disabled list since March 31st with an AC joint shoulder sprain. He was expected to be sidelined for several weeks, but the Yankees haven’t mentioned him since. Hopefully no news is good news.