Reliever Loáisiga needs season-ending surgery
Jonathan Loáisiga’s season is over. The reliever, placed on the 60-day injured list on Friday, is in need of surgery. On Saturday, he wasn’t exactly sure what procedure he needs, but he said will require 10-12 months of recovery time.
An interpreter said that Loáisiga has a forearm strain and that his tendon is specifically the area that hurts. The interpreter said that doctors also said the UCL needs repairing.
Confusion stemmed over the use of the words “tendon” and “UCL,” which stands for ulnar collateral ligament and is not a tendon. Loáisiga also said that he does not need Tommy John surgery — a procedure that is for the UCL and he has had in the past — although Aaron Boone didn’t rule out that possibility.
“It’s looking like the repair, but once you get in there, you never know for certain,” Boone said. “It’s a significant forearm strain, and the question is: is that being caused entirely by the ligament? Partially? I think they’ll see once they make the final call on what they’re going to do. And then once you get in there, what you find as well.”
While the specifics are still unclear, Dr. Keith Meister is going to perform a surgery that will end Loáisiga’s season after just three games.
Loáisiga first felt discomfort while throwing a changeup to the last batter he faced on April 3 against Arizona. The righty, who has a long injury history that includes multiple elbow issues last year, called the diagnosis “really frustrating.”
“It’s tough news,” Boone said. “The first thought is just for him. You feel for him. He was throwing the ball so well. He’s just dealt with things over the last few years that have added up to this point. I know they’re still collecting some opinions and making sure everything’s dialed in.
“Hopefully, whatever road he goes down here, this is something that serves him well moving forward in his career, because he is a really good pitcher.”
An impending free agent, Loáisiga’s latest injury could not have come at a worse time. He’s been a dominant reliever, recording a 3.44 ERA over 219.2 career innings. But he just hasn’t been reliably available.
Now it’s possible his Yankees career is over.
“My mind is not there right now,” Loáisiga said. “My mind is on what I need to do next. Go see the doctor. Go through this and find my way recovering and getting back here.”
The Yankees wanted to use Loáisiga in a multi-inning role that would come with more rest this season, similar to what they did with Michael King last year. The idea initially raised some eyebrows given Loáisiga’s injury history, and he ultimately didn’t make it through the first week of the season.
Only Loáisiga’s first appearance on March 28 exceeded an inning, and he didn’t pitch again until March 31.
“The strategy was fine,” Loáisiga said. “I was feeling really, really good up until that one pitch. So as far as usage and all that, I felt like it was a good strategy and a good way for me to work the game. But just one pitch and things changed.”
LEMAHIEU MAKES AN APPEARANCE
DJ LeMahieu (nondisplaced right foot fracture) was in the Yankees’ clubhouse before Saturday’s game against Toronto. He said that he’s “making progress” and feels encouraged after taking batting practice for the first time on Friday.
LeMahieu hasn’t done any side-toside fielding yet, “but I’m hoping to have a really good week of baseball activity this week,” he said. He added that he’s not ready for at-bats, “but almost.”
“I think the biggest test is going to be that side-to-side motion, not where you’re running just straight ahead,” Boone said. “He’s running straight ahead it feels like about 90 percent already. Hitting feels good. So he is encouraged with where he’s at and how he’s healing up. But we just gotta keep moving that needle.”
LeMahieu wasn’t sure if his foot needs more tests, noting that’s “probably a conversation at the end of this coming week.” He plans to field, run the bases and take more BP this week.
The third baseman doesn’t have a target date in mind for his return, but he’ll need a rehab assignment before he does.
“I feel like I had pretty much a full spring training, so we’ll see how this week goes,” LeMahieu said, “but I don’t anticipate a bunch of at-bats or anything like that.”
Added Boone: “I don’t think he’s that far off from starting to play in games, but he’s been down now for some time. So you want to get him against live pitching and then get him into games to where you can build him up again.”