Reliever Loáisiga goes to 60-day IL with ‘significant’ forearm strain

The Yankees are going to be without one of their top relievers for a while. Jonathan Loáisiga went on the 60-day injured list Friday with what manager Aaron Boone described as a “significant” flexor strain in his right forearm.

The hard-throwing set-up man felt something in his right arm toward the end of Wednesday’s scoreless appearance in Arizona — a 1-2-3 inning Loáisiga managed to finish.

“At the time, [Loáisiga] didn’t really think it was that big of a deal,” Boone said before Friday’s home opener. “Finished that inning, said something, and then after the game, even getting with him, I don’t think he was too concerned about it. But obviously it is concerning.”

The Yankees will consult with doctors to determine the appropriate treatment for Loáisiga, who underwent an MRI on Thursday night. To fill Loáisiga’s roster spot, the Yankees called up Dennis Santana, a six-year MLB veteran.

It’s the latest arm injury for Loáisiga, who also dealt with shoulder ailments in 2021 and 2022 and missed most of 2023 with elbow issues, including surgery last May to remove a bone spur.

Boone said he didn’t think Loáisiga’s current injury was related to last year’s but acknowledged that, for pitchers, “maybe on some level … everything’s a little bit related.”

The Yankees planned to use Loáisiga, 29, as a multi-inning reliever with more frequent rest between outings this season in an effort to keep him healthy. Loáisiga pitched four scoreless innings over three appearances on the Yankees’ season-opening road trip and boasts a 3.44 ERA for his career.

His absence creates a void in a Yankees bullpen already without Tommy Kahnle (shoulder), who is on the 15-day injured list, as well as Scott Effross (back) and Lou Trivino (elbow), who are both on the 60-day IL.

Santana, 29, owns a 5.17 ERA for his career over stints with the Dodgers, Rangers and Mets, but the righthander opened eyes during Yankees spring training, where he pitched to a 2.79 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 9.2 innings.

“He was one of the guys that I was really excited about, really since the first bullpen I saw him throw,” Boone said. “He fit in really well in the spring, as well as [having] an arsenal that I think is gonna allow him to be successful, so expect him to play a big role for us.”

BOONE HONORS TUSIANI

At the end of Friday’s pregame press conference, Boone took time to pay respects to the wife of a team executive who died after a tree fell on her car Wednesday in Westchester County.

Boone was moved to tears as he honored Cathy Tusiani, whose husband, Michael Tusiani, is the Yankees’ senior vice president of partnership.

“We’ll be playing for them today and all season,” Boone said.

Yankee Stadium held a moment of silence for Tusiani during Friday’s Opening Day ceremony.

ODOR RETURNS

A familiar face is set to add infield reinforcements for the Yankees.

Second baseman Rougned Odor, who spent the 2021 season with the Yankees, agreed Friday to a minor-league deal with the team, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. The pact includes a July 1 opt-out.

The 30-year-old Odor hit .202 with 15 home runs over 322 atbats during his first Yankees stint. The lefty-hitting veteran spent last season with the Padres, batting .203 with four homers in 138 at-bats.

Odor becomes another option for an infield that’s currently without DJ LeMahieu (foot fracture) and Oswald Peraza (shoulder strain).

ECLIPSE ACTION

The start time for Monday’s game against the Marlins at Yankee Stadium was moved from 2:05 p.m. to 6 p.m. in response to that day’s solar eclipse.

The move was due to precaution and safety, the Daily News’ Gary Phillips was told.

The first 15,000 fans in attendance will still receive an eclipsethemed Yankees shirt as originally planned.