Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader ruled out for Opening Day.
The bleak news continues in the Bronx as Harrison Bader, the New York Yankees' center fielder and previous Gold Glove winner, will be absent for Opening Day due to a left oblique strain.
Bader is predicted to be out for at least six weeks, making him the first positional player on the Yankees to land on the injured list this season. Right fielder Aaron Judge, who played half of the previous season in center field, is expected to fill in for Bader until his recovery. Manager Aaron Boone still has a few weeks left in spring training to decide on his alternatives in right field.
Injury List Expands: Four Pitchers Include
The Yankees sent their second starting pitcher and fourth overall pitcher to the injured list just a week ago. Veteran left-handed free agent Carlos Rodon, who is also missing Opening Day due to a left forearm strain, is expected to be back in action in early April, possibly missing only one or two starts.
Veteran right-handed starter Frankie Montas, who might miss the entire season due to surgery to fix a torn labrum, is currently on the extended injured list even before the season begins. Montas aims to rejoin the Yankees towards the end of the summer.
The Yankees' bullpen is without two crucial arms. Favorite relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle is facing several weeks on the sidelines due to biceps tendinitis. Right-handed Lou Trivino is expected to return mid-May with a ligament strain in his right elbow.
Despite the series of injuries during spring training, the Yankees' future at DraftKings remains constant. The Yankees are +750 odds to win the 2023 World Series, marking their first championship since 2009.
The defending champions, the Houston Astros, are the favorite to clinch the World Series at +600 odds. The Yankees share the second-favorite status with the crosstown New York Mets at +750 odds.
Since 2017, the Astros have made four appearances in the World Series, winning the championship twice. The Astros won the American League pennant four times in the last six seasons. They're the top pick to secure a third consecutive AL pennant at +310 odds, with the Yankees closely following at +380 odds.
Bad Break for Bader
The Yankees traded Harrison Bader from the St. Louis Cardinals late last season for pitcher Jordan Montgomery. He played in only 14 regular-season games for the Yankees in 2022 before making a significant postseason impact.
Excited Bader couldn't wait to play his first full season with the Yankees and start on Opening Day.
Bader first noticed the injury last Wednesday after his first plate appearance in a spring training game against the Cardinals. He experienced discomfort and unusual pain in his left side and was substituted from the game. Tests and scans revealed a left oblique strain.
Oblique injuries tend to take longer to heal compared to other strains. The Yankees did not reveal the severity of Bader's injury, but even the least severe oblique strain could keep him out for six weeks.
"Never had an oblique (injury)," Bader told The Athletic. "Which is why it's odd to me. It's definitely a hard blow, but it is what it is."
Two of Bader's teammates, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, have endured oblique injuries in the past. Both sluggers were out for a couple of months, and it took several weeks after their return to the lineup to regain their form at the plate. If athletes return too soon from an oblique injury, it can negatively impact their power at the plate.
Local Star on the Rise
Bader was raised as a Yankees fan in nearby Westchester County, just beyond the city line. He was a star athlete at Horace Mann in the fashionable Riverdale section of the Bronx, which is near Yankee Stadium. Horace Mann is a prestigious prep school not typically known for producing future professional athletes. Bader outshone his peers with a .500 batting average while breaking the school record for home runs.
While most of his high school classmates headed to Ivy League colleges, Bader attended the University of Florida on a baseball scholarship. The Cardinals selected him with a third-round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft.
Last season, Bader received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play for the Yankees and wear the iconic pinstripes. He won a Gold Glove with the Cardinals in 2021, and the Yankees took him to bolster their defense while adding speed on the basepaths.
Bader seized the starting center field job in the postseason after Aaron Hicks struggled at the plate and in the field. In nine playoff games, Bader hit five home runs, drove in six runs, and batted at .333/.429/.833. He quickly became a fan favorite in the Bronx because Yankees fans have a special bond with hometown players, particularly if they shine in October.
Bader set a new franchise record with four home runs in his first six playoff games. He also joined an exclusive group of Yankee centerfielders — including Mickey Mantle and Bernie Williams — with three or more homers in a single postseason.
Oswaldo Cabrera, the infield-focused rookie from Venezuela, showcased his adaptability in the outfield during the previous season, playing across various positions. His power at the plate was evident with six home runs from 154 at-bats. In a span of 44 games, he recorded a slash line of .247/.312/.429. Cabrera's versatility in the infield and outfield makes him a strong candidate for a roster spot.
Aaron Boone has taken a liking to Rafael Ortega, another Venezuelan outfielder, who had a brief appearance with the Cubs last season.
Ortega has caught Boone's eye with his batting, particularly against right-handed pitching, according to Boone. With his versatility in the outfield and his potential against right-handed pitching, Ortega is in the running for a spot in the team.
The Yankees have ambivalent feelings towards Estevan Florial, a top outfield prospect from the Dominican Republic. He didn't leave a lasting impression during his brief run in the majors last year, with a mere .097 batting average in 17 games as a September call-up. The Yankees face a dilemma with Florial, as he's out of minor league options and is in a win-or-lose situation.
The Yankees are closely monitoring Jasson Domínguez, the nicknamed "The Martian" for his extraordinary skills on the field, in the Dominican Republic. Domínguez made a stirring impact in spring training games. At age 20, he was promoted to Double-A at the end of the last season. While he's not anticipated to make the major league roster just yet, the organization is in no hurry to promote him until he has a full season of AAA baseball experience under his belt.
