New York Yankees Injury List vs. Roster in 2023: A Disaster, But Which Side Is Better?

In their decorated history, the New York Yankees have achieved the impossible multiple times. Boasting 27 World Series, different eras have defined the Bronx Bombers. Fast forward to 2023, and the team has probably ruined the legacy of those who came before. Like incapable progeny of great rulers, the Yankees can’t seem to come out of their injury funk. The list keeps getting ridiculous.

At one point, it seemed like unpopular names populated the bullpen. Simply because almost every single capable name had been hurt in one way or another. 2023 was to be the last of the 13-year World Series drought, but some knew Brian Cashman’s lack of trade moves wouldn’t permit it. And because the GM stubbornly believed in his ailing team, it backfired badly.

Spring Training Injury Chaos

It all started from spring training when seasoned players gave a glance into what the regular season with them would look like. Carlos Rodon carried the Bronx’s hopes but began the season on the IL due to a muscle strain in his left forearm. Then a back injury further delayed things and he ultimately arrived on the scene on July 7th.

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Harrison Bader, a promising outfielder, had to leave spring training owing to a left oblique injury. He returned on May 2nd, collided with Isiah-Kiner Falefa in his first game of the season, and promptly returned to the IL. Veteran Giancarlo Stanton, who has dealt with various injuries in the last few years, also missed time because of a left hamstring strain sustained on April 16th. It was pure chaos for a team not ready to deal with players missing from the roster.

Yankees Early Struggles

Aside from injuries, the Yankees faced another problem – underperformance. It seemed as if almost every single player employed by the club was suddenly in a slump. While it’s perfectly natural to have a slow start, the Yankees’ troubles went deeper. The first month of the season somehow passed, with the captain carrying the team on his back.

Aaron Judge Carries the Yankees

The reigning AL MVP had set even more fan expectations this year. A home run-hitting wonder in 2022, fans were pleased to see Aaron Judge in Pinstripes again. Because at one point, it really seemed as if the outfielder was done with New York. But he came back, guns ablaze, on par with the stats of the previous season. Even though a hip injury had him out for some games, he returned as if he’d never been gone. But unfortunately, one-man armies don’t work in baseball.

Bombers Veterans Miss Extended Time

It seemed like July was cursed. Josh Donaldson, who had been on and off from the IL, was once again injured. On July 16th, the Yankees announced that he had a right calf strain. The next day, it was reported that he could miss the remainder of the season. On July 21st, the Yankees declared that catcher Jose Trevino would undergo surgery for a ligament tear in his right wrist. It was a season-ending.

Next month, another player who seemed to be suffering was DJ LeMahieu, who remained out of the lineup for multiple games due to right calf tightness. While post-All-Star break seemed to bring bad luck, there was a time in May that looked like it was happening in a post-apocalyptic movie.

Aaron Judge Joins Ridiculous New York Yankees Injured List

In just the second month of the season, it seemed like the Yankees had more players on the IL than on the active roster. Who really played that month, with Aaron Judge, Harrison Bader, Giancarlo Stanton, and Josh Donaldson on the IL? Shockingly, this wasn’t even half the names.

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Forbes made a detailed list, which also included names like Carlos Rodon, Lou Trivino, Jonathan Loaisiga, Frankie Montas, Tommy Kahnle, Luis Severino, and Oswald Peraza. If anyone didn’t believe in the supernatural before, this certainly made it seem like the Bronx Bombers were cursed. And their woes hadn’t ended.

On June 3rd, Judge made a spectacular catch at Dodger Stadium and ended up with an equally fantastic injury. He limped away from the outer wall of the ballpark and then proceeded to miss two months of the season. Judge’s toe injury was taking too long to heal, reminiscent of DJ LeMahieu’s from 2022. It was possibly the worst time to be on the IL, just when the team needed him.

New York Yankees Face Anthony Rizzo Concussion Fiasco

While the Yankee Nation expected the remaining veterans to step up their game in the captain’s absence, the clubhouse went in the opposite direction. One of the main instigators of the trouble was Anthony Rizzo, who had apparently been facing an injury of his own. On May 29th, the Pinstripes’ first baseman collided with Fernando Tatis Jr. in a scary situation. But it was declared to be nothing serious, though Rizzo exited the game early.

Then he went on to give one of the worst performances of his career in the next two months, which many credited to be a slump. Instead, on August 3rd, the club placed Rizzo on the IL for what was likely a post-concussion syndrome. For almost two months, no one was able to guess why the slugger reported feeling like he was hungover without having had alcohol.

Rizzo’s performance went downhill fast, and it only brought to light the untrained medical staff that the fanbase keeps accusing the front office of.

Bombers Bullpen Woes

While the offense has been severely lacking, the Bronx Bombers had probably hoped that the defense would do well. Ace Gerrit Cole has been pitching a Cy Young-worthy season, the first of his career, and even Domingo German gave a good performance by pitching a perfect game on June 28th. But the rest of the bullpen? Disappointing! with Nestor Cortes Jr. dealing with shoulder tightness as well as left rotator cuff strain. He’s now likely out for the season.

Carlos Rodon, the only major signing Brian Cashman was willing to make last offseason, has dealt with too many injuries. It’s not as if he gives performances worthy of his contract when he takes the mound. Luis Severino also pitched a career-worst this season, and while a late-season surge helped, he’s back on the IL. Sevy may well have pitched his last game in the Bronx.

Lou Trivino’s right elbow strain before the start of the season ended in Tommy John surgery, which requires several months of recovery. Similarly, Frankie Montas’ right shoulder inflammation ended in arthroscopic surgery in February, meaning he would miss most of the season. Lastly, there was Scott Effross, who also had to undergo Tommy John last offseason, and has not pitched in 2023.

The Martian Joins Other Yankees Prospects on IL

The young squad was the team’s last hope. With veterans out of the club, only the Baby Bombers could save the season because the GM refused to trade or get new players. But seven MLB games in, Jasson Dominguez, the ‘alien’ hope for saving the Yankees’ season with dignity, got injured. His UCL tear means yet another surgery, which will make him miss most of the 2024 season.

Throughout 2023, the Yankees’ injured list has competed with the regular roster for who has the better compilation of players. And if that doesn’t lead a team to misery, what does?

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