The Yankees lost yet another outfielder when Tim Locastro was placed on the 10-day IL with what the Yankees called a right ACL injury.
Aaron Boone said Locastro tore the ACL Saturday night after Locastro banged his knee while making a leaping grab in foul territory in the first inning of their win over Boston.
Despite the latest lost outfielder, one-time top prospect Estevan Florial remains at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, as the Yankees recalled Ryan LaMarre instead prior to the series finale in The Bronx.
The 23-year-old lefty-hitter continues to struggle with getting on base and strikeouts.
He homered twice for SWB on Friday, which Boone said was “good to see.”
“He’s doing well,’’ Boone said. “The biggest thing for him is [staying] healthy and getting those regular reps. He’s had some ups and downs certainly down there, but the biggest thing is he’s been able to play regularly. Hopefully, he’s in store for a big second half.”
Boone said the decision to go with the more experienced LaMarre “gives us the best chance in the short term.”
The Yankees called up Ryan LaMarre on Sunday after Tim Locastro tore his ACL. Getty Images“[Florial’s] development’s important,’’ Boone said. “The guys that have gotten called up to this point have been in line and earned that spot.”
Tyler Wade replaced Locastro on Saturday, as the Yankees churn through outfielders at an astounding rate.
Locastro — acquired in a trade from the Diamondbacks on July 1 to provide outfield depth — joins Aaron Judge (COVID-19), Aaron Hicks (season-ending wrist surgery), Clint Frazier (vision) and Miguel Andujar (wrist) on the IL.
The Yankees also recently called up Trey Amburgey and Greg Allen to provide help in the outfield, and they even used Hoy Park — also just called up from SWB — in the outfield, despite his lack of experience there.
LaMarre played three games for the Yankees in May before he was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Luis Severino threw a 30-pitch live batting practice session on Sunday as he comes back from the strained groin that stalled his return from Tommy John surgery.
“I thought he threw the ball really well,’’ Boone said.
Severino will likely throw another live BP in “five or six days.”
If that goes well, they will determine if the right-hander is ready to restart his rehab assignment.
The Yankees haven’t ruled out having Severino finishing up his rehab in the majors, once he builds himself up to 50 or 60 pitches.
“[Sunday] was an important step for him and we’ll see where we’re at three and four and five weeks from now,’’ Boone said.
Boone said Jonathan Loaisiga is scheduled to fly to New York in the next day or so after being on the COVID IL.
“Hopefully, we’ll see him on Tuesday beginning his throwing program and back with us,’’ Boone said of Loaisiga, who has tested negative twice. “He would be first in line. Everyone else, by and large, is doing pretty well, symptom-wise.”
Michael King isn’t scheduled to throw for “another five or seven days,” according to Boone. King is on the IL with a middle finger contusion.
— Additional reporting by Greg Joyce
