The New York Yankees have placed right-handed pitcher Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list due to a strained left oblique, retroactive to June 28. In response, the team called up reliever Geoff Hartlieb from Triple-A to reinforce the bullpen.
Wells Sidelined with Finger Circulation Issue
Catcher Austin Wells missed his second consecutive game on Monday, with manager Aaron Boone attributing the absence to a circulation issue in one of the fingers on his left hand. According to Boone, the issue likely stems from the repetitive strain of catching duties.
Boone confirmed that Wells underwent multiple tests to rule out serious complications such as a blood clot. While Wells is expected to return by Wednesday, J.C. Escarra will handle catching duties in the meantime.
“Everything we’ve gotten back has been good so far,” Boone said. “It’s not something that bothers him from a performance standpoint.”
Wells is hitting .214 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs across 69 games. Last season, he reached a personal best with 13 home runs.
Cruz’s Dominant Season Put on Pause
Fernando Cruz has been one of the most reliable arms in the Yankees’ bullpen during his first year with the club. The 33-year-old right-hander owns a 2-3 record with a 3.00 ERA, along with two saves in three opportunities.
Notably, Cruz has kept opponents scoreless in 26 of his 32 outings and hasn’t allowed a hit in his last eight appearances. His 41.2% strikeout rate ranks first among pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched, and his 14.73 strikeouts per nine innings is third in the league behind only Griffin Jax of Minnesota (15.28) and Mason Miller of Oakland (14.87).
Boone explained that Cruz experienced discomfort while doing a pregame warm-up with a medicine ball prior to Sunday’s game against the Athletics. An MRI on Monday confirmed the oblique strain.
“Hopefully it’s not too long and we’ll get him back just a little fresher for the rest of the way,” Boone noted.
Cruz previously missed time between May 17 and June 4 due to right shoulder inflammation.
Roster Moves to Accommodate Hartlieb
To clear space on the 40-man roster for Hartlieb, the Yankees designated infielder CJ Alexander for assignment. Alexander, acquired in a minor trade, had limited opportunities to contribute at the Major League level.
