Just when you thought the tsunami of injuries finally subsided, the New York Yankees sent starting pitcher Jonathan “Johnny Lasagna” Loaisiga on the 60-day IL with a strained right rotator cuff.
In the latest episode of “Bronx ER”, Loaisiga becomes the 17th member of the Yankees to spend time on the injured list. What started out as a joke has now become a nightmare epidemic.
The Yankees took another bad beat with third baseman Miguel Andujar. He returned to the IL for a second time this season after missing four weeks with a torn labrum.
Miggy Repeat Visitor
As a rookie, Andujar made a name for himself in the Bronx with his hitting skills. Andujar struggled defensively at third base, but he hit the ball so darn hard that it was impossible to keep him out of the line up. Andujar was one of the Top 3 rookies in the American League last season. He lost out in the AL Rookie of the Year race to the LA Angels two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani.
Andujar injured his throwing shoulder during the first week of the season. The Yankees expected the worst and thought he would require surgery and miss the entire season. After a positive rehab stint, Andujar returned to the lineup the first weekend in May.
With replacement Gio Urshela playing amazing defense and hitting over .300, manager Aaron Boone kept Urshela at third base. Instead, Boone inserted Andujar into the lineup as DH. Andujar struggled with only three hits in 34 at bats. At that point, the team decided to shut him down.
“Kind of give it a little time out to declare itself a little bit more and re-evaluate it,” said manager Aaron Boone. “We feel like even though he’s passed everything and the strength tests have been good and rehabbed him properly, we do feel like the injury is certainly a contributing factor to some of the struggles. We’ll reassess all that and try to get a plan in place to try and get him back.”
In 32 games this season, Urshela is hitting .341 with 2 home runs and 15 RBI. He’s got a .505 slugging percentage too.
Short Legend of Johnny Lasagna
You know things are bad in the Bronx when the replacement players need a replacement. Jonathan “Johnny Lasagna” Loaisiga filled in for James Paxton (3-2 and 3.11 ERA), who headed to the IL with left knee inflammation. Paxton became the 16th player to succumb to the hex.
To replace Paxton, the Yankees called up right hander Jonathan Loaisiga. The kid from Nicaragua, nicknamed “Johnny Lasagna”, had a stint with the Yankees last season. He appeared in nine games (including four starts) and posted a 2-0 record with a 5.11 ERA and 1.54 WHIP.
In three starts filling in for Paxton this season, Loaisiga went 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.
YANKEES PITCHERS ON IL
Luis Severino
Dellin Betances
James Paxton
Jordan Montgomery
Ben Heller
Jonathan Loaisiga
Johnny Lasagna became unlucky #17 when he strained his shoulder over the weekend. Initially he was designated for a 30-day stint, but the Yankees decided to shut him down for two months. He is listed on the 60-day IL with a strained right rotator cuff.
Long reliever Luis Cessna is expected to take Loaisiga’s turn in the rotation. The Yanks also called up Chase Adams from AAA Scranton.
Despite the horror story, the venerable Replacement Yankees have been holding the line with 24 wins. Only the Houston Astros, Tampa Rays, and Minnesota Twins won more games than the Yanks in the American League this season. The Yankees are in the thick of a fierce AL East race against the first-place Tampa Bay Rays and defending champion Red Sox.
