TORONTO — The Yankees are dealing with more muscle pain, as Jose Trevino hit the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain before Thursday’s series finale against the Blue Jays.
Aaron Boone said that Trevino tweaked his hamstring early in Wednesday’s game when he ran out of the batter’s box. In the seventh, the catcher ran gingerly to first base before avoiding a tag from pitcher Chris Bassitt.
While Boone wasn’t sure if Trevino will undergo an MRI, he did receive treatment Thursday. The manager added that the backstop has been generally “beat up.” Boone feels some time off will benefit Trevino, and the hope is that he returns toward the end of the Yankees’ upcoming homestand.
“Obviously, we gotta get the hamstring healed, but hopefully it gives his whole body a little break, too,” Boone said. “And hopefully it’s something that serves him and us well over the long haul.”
While Kyle Higashioka started behind the plate Thursday, the Yankees promoted another catcher, Ben Rortvedt, to replace Trevino.
Rortvedt found out about his promotion before bed Wednesday night with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre playing in Charlotte. He hopped on a 9 a.m. flight and arrived in Toronto around noon. The 25-year-old said that RailRiders players always keep their passports with them when the Yankees are in Canada.
A defensive-minded catcher, Rortvedt hit well (.327/.421/.612, 3 HR, 10 RBI) over 14 minor league games, mostly at Triple-A, after suffering an aneurysm in his left shoulder during spring training. The aneurysm caused discoloration and circulation issues in his finger and required surgery.
“It’s definitely a lot better than before surgery,” Rortvedt said. “To be completely honest, my finger’s still kind of lingering, but it’s a lot [better]. I’m glad I got surgery because it’s really a big improvement from where it was before.”
Rortvedt added that the finger doesn’t impact him; he just feels the stinging that catchers normally do with a job that requires catching high-velocity projectiles.
The aneurysm wasn’t Rortvedt’s first injury with the Yankees, as he joined the club with an existing oblique injury when they acquired him, Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Twins last spring. Rortvedt also underwent left knee surgery for a meniscus clean-up last May.
“He’s a really natural catcher, really good framer, really good receiver back there,” Boone said. “Athletic, can really throw, left-handed hitter. And obviously, with us, he’s missed a lot of time over the last couple seasons, but I think he’s in a pretty good place right now physically and got some traction down there where he’s playing well, so hopefully he can come up here and get more entrenched in our kind of system and with our catchers and pitchers and play a role.”
While Rortvedt played in 39 games for the Twins in 2021, his injuries have led Yankees fans to joke that he doesn’t exist on social media. Soon he’ll get a chance to make his pinstriped debut and prove those theories false.
“This has been a long time coming. I’ve been through a lot,” Rortvedt said. “I’m pretty excited. Worked extremely hard to get to this point, and to be back feeling healthy again.
“I know there’s rumblings. I know it’s a joke. It is pretty funny. But I’m just excited to be here and play ball.”
BRINGER OF PAIN
Donaldson (hamstring) was expected to start a rehab assignment by now, but that hasn’t happened yet. Boone said that’s because the third baseman recently jammed/cut his thumb while putting something together for his daughter at home.
That kept Donaldson from hitting for a few days, but he has been doing baseball activities. Boone said that he and Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) are now on similar timelines.
HAMILTON’S TIMELINE
Boone expects Ian Hamilton (groin strain) to miss approximately four weeks.
“It’s another opportunity for somebody to step up,” the skipper said of the breakout reliever’s absence. “We’ve had some guys down, and fortunately, we’ve seen guys step up — guys like Ian Hamilton — and take advantage of opportunities. And that’s what we’re gonna have to see some more of.”
In related news, Tommy Kahnle’s (bicep tendinitis) rehab assignment began in Tampa on Thursday. Boone expects him to need four-six rehab outings.
FLEXIBILITY IN THE NINTH
Boone said that he likes not having to use Clay Holmes strictly in the ninth inning after the reliever took over the Yankees’ closer role last season.
“There’s gonna be days where it does line up to where he’s closing the game,” Boone said. “But I like putting him in situations that we feel he can thrive in.”
Holmes, who endured some rocky ninth innings a few weeks back, tossed a scoreless seventh on Wednesday while stranding two inherited runners. He has not allowed a run in his last seven appearances (7.1 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 11 K).