If all goes to plan, the Yankees should have a valuable piece of their starting lineup back in action early next week.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone explained that third baseman Gio Urshela, who’s been dealing with a bone spur in his right elbow, should be activated off the Injured List on Tuesday, when the Bombers begin a three-game set at home against the Toronto Blue Jays.
“Gio’s feeling great,” Boone said. “He hit on the field today, did ground balls. I believe he’s eligible to come off Tuesday and that would be the expectation.”
Urshela is slashing .272/.358/.515 this season with six home runs and 23 RBI, and while his batting average may be slightly down from his .314 clip of his 2019 breakout season, he has still had a fine year for the Yanks while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense at third base.
With Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton still banged up and Gleyber Torres just coming back from an injury, Urshela could be a key piece in the Yankees’ lineup as they look to dig out of their current rut an make a playoff push.
Meanwhile, RHP Jonathan Loaisiga, who hit the IL on the same day as Urshela with a non-COVID-related illness, is eligible to rejoin the team on Saturday, but Boone isn’t quite positive yet if that will be the case.
“Lo’s doing really well the last few days, so I think he’ll probably get on the mound possibly tomorrow,” Boone said. “I think he’s eligible to come off Saturday. I don’t know that it will necessarily be Saturday, but he’s close to being back in with us."