The Yankees wasted the good vibes of Old-Timers’ Day and lost their fourth consecutive series. And, in continuing their current downward trend, that wasn’t even close to the worst news of the day.
No, that would be a somber Aaron Hicks revealing he is going on the 10-day disabled list and is expecting to miss three-to-four weeks with a right oblique injury after suffering the malady on a check swing in his first at-bat. To make matters worse, manager Joe Girardi also let out that second baseman Starlin Castro was unavailable in Sunday’s 7-6 loss to the Rangers after getting a cortisone shot on Saturday to relieve pain in his wrist.
“You worry about the injuries,” Girardi said. “We were kind of limited with what we had today.”
Castro and Girardi downplayed the wrist issue, both saying they expect Castro to return to the lineup Monday night in Chicago against the White Sox.
The news was grim on Hicks, who left this latest defeat after the fourth inning.
“I didn’t really think too much of it,” said Hicks, who underwent an MRI exam during the game, of when he first felt the pain in his side. “I thought I could play through it. My second at-bat, I took a swing on a base hit up the middle, that’s when I really felt it.”
Hicks is in the midst of a career year, producing a .290/.398/.515 slash line with a .913 OPS, 10 home runs and 37 RBIs. But now he’ll have to sit down for a while, and with the Yankees in the midst of losing 10 of 12.
“It’s very frustrating,” he said. “I want to be out there battling with my team. Now I can’t do that.”
Girardi left open the possibility outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (concussion) could return sooner than anticipated in light of Hicks’ injury. Ellsbury, out since crashing into the center-field wall at the Stadium on May 24, played in his second rehabilitation game on Sunday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 2-for-5 as a designated hitter. The original plan was for him to stay in the minors through Wednesday.
Castro said his wrist was feeling “much better” after getting the shot. Girardi said Castro has been nursing the wrist for six weeks, though Castro said he has only felt it for two weeks. It has caused him discomfort when he swings or throws. He hasn’t driven the ball much of late, without a homer since June 11 and just one extra-base in his last 12 games.
“He wanted to continue to play and play and play, and he’s been productive with it,” Girardi said. “It’s just something that’s kind of nagging. Not a serious injury.”
It was serious enough for the Yankees to give him a full day of rest on Sunday.
