BALTIMORE – New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero will be sent back to New York for tests on his right middle finger after he injured it diving back into a base, manager Aaron Boone said Monday, May 11.
Caballero, who seized the starting shortstop job from Anthony Volpe with his early season play this year, hurt his finger diving into first base on a pickoff attempt in the ninth inning of the Yankees’ loss at Milwaukee Sunday. He will need an MRI to determine the extent of the damage, but said he doesn’t believe the finger was broken.
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“There’s definitely some concern. He’s as tough as they come,” says Boone. “So, just had a little hard time when he went to throw today. His hitting was good.
“He’s going to get some tests tomorrow morning. We’ll see what we have the next day or two.”
Boone said Caballero will be examined by a hand specialist along with club physician Christopher Ahmad. Max Schuemann will start in place of Caballero Monday and likely Tuesday, Boone said, though he did not rule out third baseman Ryan McMahon making his second start of the season in this series.
Caballero’s 1.6 WAR trails only outfielders Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger among Yankee position players. He has a league-average 100 adjusted OPS, batting .259 with four homers and 13 stolen bases in 17 attempts.
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While the Yankees do not know if Caballero’s injury will require a stint on the injured list, that scenario would generate intrigue about how the club would fill the roster spot. Volpe lost his three-year grip on the starting job when he was optioned to Class AAA after his rehabilitation from offseason shoulder surgery was complete.
Volpe is batting .205 with a .238 OBP through his first nine games at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Jose Caballero will undergo tests on his right middle finger after injuring it in Milwaukee.
“I haven’t talked to Anthony since he went down, since we made that decision,” says Boone. “It’s definitely challenging to deal with that. Everyone has challenges they gotta deal with, some adversity they gotta deal with. Whether it’s up here, it’s part of it.
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“Anthony’s mentally a very tough kid. That will serve him well as he navigates this.”
The club could also promote veteran utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera, who has filled the utility role in past seasons in New York. That would enable Volpe to play every day at Class AAA.
Either way, the club must, at least in this series, navigate life without one of their surprise stars.
“He’s been great. He’s been such a good performer for us this year on both sides of the ball,” says Boone. “He’s been a key part of our team to this point. Hopefully it’s a day-to-day situation.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yankees’ José Caballero sent home for tests on finger injury
