Florial launches first MLB homer
Estevan Florial returned to the Yankees with a bang.
Fresh off another call-up and playing in his third major league game, the 23year-old outfielder crushed his first career home run in the eighth inning of a 6-4 win over the Phillies on Tuesday night.
“It’s everything I have dreamed about,” Florial said after going 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs. “To come here, to play in the big leagues and also overall help the team, [that’s] what I did.”
The lefty hitter was promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier on Tuesday after Trey Amburgey went on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain. Florial singled in his MLB debut last summer, doubled in another onegame cameo in May and then came up with his biggest swing yet, a solo homer to right field off Phillies reliever Enyel De Los Santos.
“He’s got loads of talent,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Hopefully he can continue to give us that shot in the arm.”
Florial, who was passed over for a call-up multiple times in the past week though the Yankees’ outfield continued to be depleted by injuries and COVID-19 protocols, now has his best chance to take advantage of an opportunity. None of his first four callups lasted more than a game (he never even got into a game during two of them).
DJ LeMahieu was a late scratch because of a stomach virus. The infielder took a rapid COVID-19 test that came back negative, the Yankees said. Boone said he hopes LeMahieu can return Wednesday.
With Chris Gittens only available in an emergency because of a sore Achilles, Rob Brantly started at first base. He delivered a sixthinning double (his first hit since 2017) that knocked Phillies ace Aaron Nola out of the game.
Brantly, the veteran catcher called up Friday to replace Kyle Higashioka (COVID-19), had played five professional games at first base before Tuesday, all of them in the minors. Boone said he also considered using Gary Sanchez or Rougned Odor at first.
Journeyman righthander Asher Wojciechowski, will start Wednesday for the Yankees.
Michael King (right middle finger contusion) and Nestor Cortes Jr. (COVID-19) are both out, so the Yankees needed a fifth starter at some point this week. They decided to use Wojciechowski on Wednesday to have Jordan Montgomery in line Thursday to start the first of the fourgame series in Boston.
Wojciechowski, who is still building back up from a lat injury this spring, had a 5.68 ERA in four starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Jonathan Loaisiga rejoined the Yankees after being cleared from his COVID-19 quarantine. The reliever is expected to throw a bullpen session Wednesday and could return to the roster this weekend in Boston.
Boone said Cortes is the next in line to come back from COVID-19, potentially rejoining the team in Boston.
Darren O’Day will have season-ending surgery on his left hamstring Wednesday. The sidearming reliever suffered the injury while sprinting before the July 6 game in Seattle. He tore the same hamstring in 2018, but it never fully healed after surgery.
Luke Voit (knee) received a platelet-rich plasma injection Friday and was feeling “significantly better” by Monday, Boone said, adding that the first baseman is “still a couple days away from baseball activities.” … Miguel Andujar
(wrist) hit on Wednesday as he ramps up baseball activities. … Tim Locastro will have surgery Wednesday to repair his right ACL, which he tore making a catch Saturday night.