Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson announced Wednesday morning that he went for an MRI on his ailing right hamstring (relayed by Bryan Hoch of MLB.com).
Specifics of the injury still aren’t clear, though he’s being shut down for an indeterminate period of time.
It’s a disappointing setback for a player who was initially expected to return to the majors this week. The Yankees sent Donaldson on a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset Tuesday. He took three plate appearances but apparently felt renewed discomfort.
Manager Aaron Boone told reporters Tuesday night that Donaldson was still experiencing some hamstring tightness (via Chris Kirschner of the Athletic).
Donaldson has been out since April 6. He’s gotten into only five games this year. While he’s been out, the Yankees have given the majority of the third base reps to D.J. LeMahieu. Utility players Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Oswaldo Cabrera have also gotten some action, but they’ve each seen more playing time in the outfield in the early going.
Donaldson is hoping to get back on track after a down first season in the Bronx, in which he hit only .261/.314/.327 across 531 plate appearances.
In other Yankees’ injury news, the club announced that offseason pickup Carlos Rodón is still being bothered by back soreness. He started the year on the 15-day injured list with a forearm strain, but it’s now the back that seems to be giving him trouble. Boone called the issue a “minor, nagging thing” (relayed by Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News).
Meanwhile, Boone pegged the hopeful recovery timeline on Giancarlo Stanton at six weeks (Kirschner link). Stanton suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain over the weekend; initial reports pegged the absence at four to six weeks, but it seems the longer end of that timetable is likely.
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