Montas may be back in 2nd half
The Yankees got some encouraging news Wednesday when they learned Frankie Montas may be able to start throwing as early as late May following his shoulder surgery, which leaves the door open for him to return in the second half of the 2023 season.
Aaron Boone said Montas’ labrum was cleaned up during a procedure and the 29-yearold’s rotator cuff didn’t need to be repaired. Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the procedure.
“Everything went according to plan,” Boone said. “We’re day one out of surgery, so we have a long way to go from there. We’re hopeful at some point he can get back, but I don’t want to best case, worst case.”
The Yankees acquired Montas and Lou Trivino from the A’s in exchange for pitchers JP Sears, Ken Waldichuk, Luis Medina and second baseman Cooper Bowman on Aug. 1. Montas was acquired to bolster the starting rotation but went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in eight starts with the Yankees. The right-hander was sidelined in September due to shoulder inflammation. He later made an appearance in the Game 2 ALCS loss to the Astros, allowing a homer in one inning pitched.
NESTOR MAKING PROGRESS
Lefty Nestor Cortes has thrown off a mound twice since suffering a strained right hamstring. He is on track to appear in his first simulated game.
Minor league catcher Ben Rortvedt had surgery for an aneurysm of the posterior artery near his left shoulder on Wednesday. The former Twin had been experiencing what turned out to be a circulation problem with a finger and will be sidelined for a month.
“Then hopefully he’ll be able to start ramping up at that point,” Boone said. “Everything went well.”