Yankees Chapman has sharp return from injury

Aroldis Chapman pitched a 1-2-3 inning and the New York bullpen nearly felt right again. Except that he threw the eighth this time in another close defeat, not in a ninthinning save situation.

OAKLAND » Aroldis Chapman pitched a 1-2-3 inning and the New York bullpen nearly felt right again. Except that he threw the eighth this time in another close defeat, not in a ninthinning save situation, as is his customary slot.

The left-hander had been sidelined since May 13 with inflammation in the rotator cuff of his pitching shoulder. While on his three-appearance rehab assignment, Chapman said it was difficult to see his team lose close games when he could have helped.

He is encouraged the shoulder feels right at last and he is pain-free. And Chapman feels good about his velocity, showing that with several pitches clocked at 101-102 mph.

Prospect Torres needs Tommy John surgery

NEW YORK » Top Yankees prospect Gleyber Torres has a torn ligament in his non-throwing elbow and will have Tommy John surgery that will sideline him until spring training.

Torres, a 20-year-old who was the top player in the Arizona Fall League, was injured Saturday on a head-first slide into home plate for Triple-A Scranton.

He was examined Monday by Yankees head team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and the team said he has a torn left ulnar collateral ligament. New York said it expects him to recover in time for spring training.