The Yankees’ outfield issues should be eased shortly.
The plan has been for Harrison Bader, who played Wednesday with Double-A Somerset, to rejoin the big-league club for the series that begins Friday in Boston.
Presuming Bader has not suffered a setback, the Yankees will have a true center fielder on the roster again.
Without Bader and Aaron Judge, and with Giancarlo Stanton only available as DH, the Yankees have featured three converted infielders (Jake Bauers, Oswaldo Cabrera and Isiah Kiner-Falefa) and a corner outfielder (Billy McKinney) who had been forced to play center.
The Yankees’ only other option has been Willie Calhoun, whose lack of speed makes him a DH.
The Yankees have made the defensive sacrifices in hopes the bats would compensate, but the sacrifices have been noticeable.
In Thursday’s loss to the Mets, a faster and more natural right fielder would have had a better chance at catching Brandon Nimmo’s walk-off hit in the 10th inning. Instead, it bounced off the wall a few feet from Bauers for an RBI double.
Earlier in the game, Gerrit Cole had held the Mets hitless until the fifth inning, when Francisco Lindor smacked a deep drive off the wall in right-center field for a double, Kiner-Falefa pulling up short. It was not a poor play, but it also might have been a play that Bader can make.
Three batters later, Tommy Pham sent Bauers scrambling back to the warning track. Bauers took an awkward route, and the ball bounced for an RBI double.
The Yankees’ outfield has been unsettled since Bader strained his right hamstring running to first base May 29. Bader, who has played in just 29 of 69 games this season, is a Gold Glover who has not been able to stay on the field enough.
He went 0-for-4 in seven innings with Somerset on Thursday.
Carlos Rodon threw 35 pitches in a live batting practice at Double-A Somerset, according to the Yankees’ affiliate.
The lefty told the club’s social media team that he felt good after his third time facing hitters following a left forearm strain and back discomfort setback. A rehab assignment could be Rodon’s next step.
Righty Ian Hamilton also was expected to throw a live batting practice with Somerset.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre placed Deivi Garcia on the seven-day injured list. The righty last pitched in a game Tuesday. Garcia, who has been shifted to a multi-inning reliever this season, has struggled recently, allowing seven earned runs in his previous 5 ²/₃ innings.