Paxton remains optimistic he’ll be back in May
TAMPA — James Paxton is “optimistic” he could begin his throwing program in 10 days if his rehab continues to go smoothly. The Yankee lefthander had surgery to repair a disc in his lower back earlier this month and was projected to be rehabbing for three to four months.
“I know the doctor said, originally for six weeks, postsurgery, I could be throwing, so I think that puts us at 10 days, puts us right around four weeks,” Paxton said. “Everything’s been going really well, responded really well to all of the therapy so far. I think as long as you keep on going that direction. I could be throwing in 10 days.” That would be in line with Paxton’s suggestion that he could be back pitching for the Yankees by May. The program would begin with a simple game of catch at 45 feet for 10 to 15 throws.
Without setbacks, a quick buildup from there would go until he is throwing about 50 times at 120 feet, then progress to the mound.
Paxton was diagnosed with a cyst on his spine, which happens after the protective shell of the disc is compromised. He had surgery to repair the disc but has had a fairly easy recovery so far.
“For the most part … I feel really good. The doctor said there will be some pain,” Paxton said after the Yankees’ Grapefruit League opener, a 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “Yeah, it’s been pretty normal… With this with recovery, [pain] kind of comes with it. But it’s been very minor and gone away pretty quickly.”
Paxton first suffered the back issue in his final regular season start last September. He pitched really well in the playoffs after a shot for the pain.
The Yankees could use Paxton back as soon as possible. He was pitching very well at the end of last season and would be a strong No. 2 behind Gerrit Cole. The Yankees’ rotation already took a hit when Domingo German was suspended the first 63 games of the season for domestic violence. Then, Luis Severino was shut down from throwing last week and will spend three days back in New York seeing specialists and undergoing tests for a mysterious forearm issue.
JUST RAMPING UP
Aaron Judge hit off a tee in the batting cage for the second straight day on Saturday, part of his rehab from right shoulder soreness that had him shut down for over a week. The Yankees slugger will ramp up to live hitting slowly, Boone said.
“I haven’t seen the progression we have for him. I’m sure we’ll take it conservative as far as getting him outside hitting and having real at-bats,” Boone
said. “Physically, he’s fine. Even when we shut him down from hitting, he was doing all his defensive work and running and all his workouts. We’ll take it slow more because of the calendar. I’m not sure exactly when he’ll debut yet.”
BIG BOYS TO DEBUT
Saturday’s opening day lineup featured DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres, Gio Urshela and Mike Ford. Miguel Andujar and Luke Voit will be making their Grapefruit League debuts Sunday on the road against the Rays in Port Charlotte.
Monday night will be the spring debuts for Gary Sanchez, Giancarlo Stanton, Brett Gardner and new $324 million ace Gerrit Cole, Boone said.