KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Yankees have been impacted yet again by COVID-19.
Right-hander Clay Holmes was added to the COVID injured list Wednesday after he reported symptoms, and the team was awaiting test results. Brooks Kriske was activated to take his place on the roster before Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, though he did not pitch.
The Yankees are already without Anthony Rizzo, Gary Sanchez, Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery, who were part of the most recent outbreak.
Asked Tuesday about the team’s troubles with COVID-19, which has now sidelined 12 players over the course of the season, Zack Britton said it was “frustrating.”
“We don’t know why it keeps happening,’’ Britton said. “We’re over 90 percent vaccinated [as a traveling group]. We did everything we felt we needed to do to protect ourselves.”
Clay Holmes is the latest Yankee to go on the COVID IL. Getty ImagesRizzo is the only Yankee who has publicly admitted not being vaccinated, but the team has had at least one other non-breakthrough case.
On getting the vaccine, Britton said: “We knew it didn’t mean you can’t get COVID, but it lessens the symptoms — which it has in some cases and hasn’t in others. Guys are still getting severe symptoms like they never got the vaccine.”
Britton said he has no answers as to why the Yankees have had so many cases.
“It’s hard to say,’’ said Britton, who battled the virus during the offseason. “Guys have been coming to the field, playing baseball. I know guys aren’t going out doing stuff they shouldn’t be doing. … I don’t know why we’re leading the pack and other teams seem not to have any cases. At this point, it’s pretty annoying.”
It’s especially annoying with the Yankees still on the outside looking in at the playoffs.
“We’re trying to win games and have a lot of important guys out,’’ Britton said. “It’s aggravating.”
It’s also another blow to a taxed bullpen that’s without Aroldis Chapman, Mike King and Darren O’Day (all on the IL).
Holmes was acquired in a trade with the Pirates on July 26. In seven appearances since the trade, he’s allowed just five runners and a pair of earned runs in 8 ¹/₃ innings.
