Yanks’ Austin gets hearing on suspension
Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin had his hearing Thursday to appeal his fivegame suspension for his part in a brawl with the Boston Red Sox.
Austin says he was told he’d likely learn the result of his hearing within a week.
Austin was suspended by Major League Baseball after charging the mound at Fenway Park on April 11 when reliever Joe Kelly threw at him twice. The second pitch hit Austin on the side. Kelly was suspended six games but also appealed.
Kelly, Austin, Red Sox manager Alex Cora and Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin were fined. Four players on the disabled list also were fined for entering the field during the skirmish: Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, and Red Sox infielders Xander Bogaerts, Dustin Pedroia, and Marco Hernandez.
In other news, the team announced reliever Tommy Kahnle
will be shut down for 10 days and likely miss a few weeks after being diagnosed with biceps and shoulder tendinitis.
Manager Aaron Boone revealed the diagnosis Thursday before a game against Toronto. Kahnle had an MRI this week that revealed the tendinitis. The right-hander was placed on the disabled list Tuesday.
Kahnle is 1-0 with a 6.14 ERA in six appearances. With his velocity down this season, he has struck out nine and walked eight in 7 1/3 innings.
The 28-year-old was 1-1 last season with a 2.70 ERA for New York in 32 games after being acquired from the White Sox in July. He’s part of a deep Yankees bullpen that’s underperformed, ranking 23rd in the majors with a 4.48 ERA entering Thursday.
New York’s other injured
players are making progress. Clint Frazier (concussion) was set to take batting practice and do outfield work with Class A Tampa and could play in a game soon. Brandon Drury (severe migraines) took batting practice with New York on Thursday, and Greg Bird (right ankle surgery) ran on the field, played catch and hit.
Jacoby Ellsbury is still in Tampa recovering from plantar fasciitis in his right heel, as well as oblique and hip injuries. Boone said Ellsbury hit off a tee Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Yankees signed first baseman/ outfielder Adam Lind to a minor league deal on Wednesday.
Lind will report to the team’s complex in Tampa, Florida, for extended spring training.
Lind also signed a minor league deal with New York on March 2 and was released 12 days later. He hit .200 (3 for 15) in five spring games with the Yankees.