Yankees Injury Update: Clint Frazier, Didi Gregorius, and more

We’re just about a week in to May, and the Yankees’ injured list continues to span double-digits. Some players, however, are making progress towards a return. There are a lot of moving pieces involved though. To make things easy to follow, here’s the latest information available on all 13 injured Yankees.

Clint Frazier

During a radio interview with Jim Bowden, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed that the team would activate Frazier either tonight or tomorrow. As it turns out he was activated today. The outfielder sprained his ankle during an extra-inning game against the Angels on April 22.

Aaron Hicks

Hicks has been spending time at extended spring training. Cashman expects he will start a rehab assignment with the Tampa Tarpons this week. If all goes well, he could be an option for the Yankees this weekend. The center fielder has been sidelined with a back injury since early March.

James Paxton

Cashman indicated that Paxton’s knee inflammation isn’t a new occurrence, citing a flare-up with Seattle in 2014. He will receive an injection and take a full week off before resuming baseball activities. The team expects Paxton to miss three weeks at the most.

Giancarlo Stanton

Cashman noted that Stanton’s shoulder is improving, and he could begin taking batting practice this week. The 29-year-old landed on the injured list on April 1 with a biceps strain, which healed fine, but shoulder pain soon followed.

Troy Tulowitzki

Tulowitzki had been slated for a return alongside Miguel Andujar, but he aggravated his left calf strain while on a rehab assignment. Cashman anticipates “a week of no activity” before attempting to turn it on again.

Dellin Betances

Betances will begin a throwing program today, per Cashman. A return, however, isn’t forecasted until June. The Yankees shut the 31-year-old down in spring training with a shoulder impingement, but an MRI later revealed a bone spur. The bullpen has clearly missed Betances’ presence.

Didi Gregorius

Sir Didi “is really progressing well,” says Cashman. He will begin a throwing program this week, with the goal of getting at-bats in extended spring training around May 20. He will likely assume a designated hitter role at first before playing the field. Gregorius underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2018.

Luis Severino

Cashman expects Severino to be ready to go after the All-Star break. The right-hander went to the injured list with rotator cuff tendinitis, then moved to the 60-day IL with a Grade 2 lat strain.

Greg Bird

Bird is walking without a boot, per Lindsey Adler. The team has no timetable for his potential return after a left plantar fascia tear. “Timetables are pointless,” says Bird. If that doesn’t capture his career post-2015, then I don’t know what does.

Aaron Judge

Cashman had no update to offer on Judge. The right fielder landed on the injured list with an oblique strain on April 20. The team said that they would shut him down for two weeks before reassessing.

Jacoby Ellsbury

The Yankees have no updates on Ellsbury. The latest information comes from Aaron Boone, who told Bryan Hoch: “Ells is just kind of dealing with different things, so not that far along. He’s had a number of little things that continue to pop up. He’s had a number of things just from shoulder to hip and whatnot. He’s doing OK, but working through things as well.” Okay then.

Jordan Montgomery

The team has no updates on Montgomery, who was last expected to be major-league ready in August. The left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last June.

Ben Heller

The right-hander continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery by throwing to batters.