The injury bug hasn’t been kind to the Yankees in the early going this season. But their center fielder is trending in the right direction.
If all goes well, Harrison Bader will begin a minor league rehab assignment sometime next week, according to the outfielder and Aaron Boone. Bader has been out with a left oblique strain, but he hasn’t felt any pain there since sustaining the injury early in spring training.
“I feel really close,” Bader said Thursday, his first full day of baseball activities. That included running the bases, fielding and throwing from the outfield and taking batting practice on the field at Yankee Stadium. Bader said he prepared as if he were playing Thursday night.
“He’s doing great,” Boone said. “Now it’s full bore the next several days.”
The Yankees will evaluate where Bader is at on their off day Monday, but the plan is for him to get into games soon. Boone noted that Bader will require a decent number of rehab contests to get ramped up.
It hasn’t been determined where those games will take place, but Bader has one request.
“It has to do with the schedule of the affiliates,” he said, “but hopefully it’s somewhere warm.”
OTHER INJURIES
DJ LeMahieu (quad tightness) remained out of the Yankees’ lineup on Thursday against the Twins, though Boone said the infielder is “doing better” after suffering the injury in Cleveland. LeMahieu wanted to leave the possibility of playing Thursday open, but Boone shut the idea down out of caution.
Boone said Carlos Rodon (forearm strain/back tightness) threw a bullpen Wednesday with limited intensity. He felt fine Thursday and proceeded to play catch. The southpaw will throw another bullpen Sunday or Monday, but no live session is scheduled yet. That would be the next step if all goes well in the next pen.
Luis Severino, meanwhile, will probably throw a half-pen, half-live session on Monday after throwing a regular bullpen Thursday, per Boone.
FRANCHY’S FITTING IN
Franchy Cordero has been the talk of the team due to his early-season power surge, but it’s more than just his bat that’s making a strong impression.
“He’s fit in very well,” Boone said of the outfielder. “The guys have embraced him, and him them. Our guys do a really good job of creating an environment where guys can come in and feel comfortable, and that’s hopefully contributed to some of the early success he’s had here.”
Gerrit Cole said much of the same — though in fewer words — while the Yankees were in Cleveland, where Cordero hit two home runs.
“Big thump. Good dude,” the ace said. “Great vibes, positive, plays hard, and lays the wood.”
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