Yankees shake up training staff
After an investigation that Yankees GM Brian Cashman liked to call “CSI: The Bronx,” the Yankees went outside the organization to fix their problem with injuries.
After a record-number of injuries which sent 30 players on the injured list in 2019, the Yanks shook up the staff that tends to the players’ health and training. Tuesday they officially announced that Eric Cressey, whose private work with major-leaguers is well-documented, will oversee the changes as the Yankees Director of Player Health and Performance.
Also joining the organization are Donovan Santas (Assistant Director of Player Health and Performance) and Brett McCabe (Major League Strength and Conditioning Coach). McCabe replaces Matt Krause, who was fired after the 2019 season. Michael Schuk becomes the Director of Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation and Tim Lentych becomes the Yankees head trainer.
The most dramatic and notable of the changes is the removal of long-time trainer Steve Donohue from the dugout and moved into the role of Director of Medical Services. While the Yankees went into detail about Donohue’s longtenured service to the team over 42 seasons, there was no description of what his new role would be.
The Yankees suffered an unbelievable plague of injuries in 2019. Giancarlo Stanton played just 18 regular-season games because of injuries to his biceps, shoulder and knee. Miguel Andujar suffered a seasonending torn labrum. Dellin Betances pitched in just one inning after being diagnosed with a shoulder issue which turned into a bone spur and then a strained lat muscle. Luis Severino missed all but the final weeks in September with what was first a right rotator cuff strain and then became a serious right lat strain.
Creesey, who will be allowed to continue his private work with Cressey Sports Performance, has been directing the offseason training regimens for more than 100 professional baseball players. Those major-leaguers include Nationals ace Max Scherzer and former Indians ace Corey Kluber. He has also worked with Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard.
“After a long and thorough review process, we’re proud to welcome Eric Cressey to the New York Yankees to oversee our player health and performance team,” Cashman said in the team announcement of the changes. “Eric is a highly accomplished coach in the fitness world and has a strong reputation in the baseball industry in regards to athlete training, performance, and player care.
“Among his responsibilities, Eric will have a large hand in staffing, assessments, facility enhancements, equipment, continuing education, and technology. We’re excited to have Eric join the Yankees to best serve our players across the organization.”
This is similar to the Mets bringing on Mike Barwis to oversee their strength and conditioning program in 2014 in the wake of a rash of injuries. He still ran his private training company, opening a gym at the Mets spring training facility. The move, however, did not see the result the Mets had hoped for with a plague of injuries upending their 2017 season and resulting in a shake-up of their medical and training staff.