The New York Yankees' roster has already been impacted by multiple injuries. Now, they have lost another star in a key position, which could spell doom for their once-promising season.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Yankees were playing the Baltimore Orioles when starting pitcher Max Fried left the game early. Fried managed only three innings in the matinee, during which he made an uncharacteristic throwing error, before walking down the tunnel and into the Yankees' locker room. Paul Blackburn replaced Fried after the initial starter tossed just 61 pitches.
Following the Yankees' 7-0 loss, the team revealed that Fried was experiencing posterior soreness in his pitching elbow. Fried will be examined by Dr. Christopher Ahmad in New York on Thursday, when he is expected to undergo imaging, according to multiple reports.
Fried, who held a 2.91 ERA going into Wednesday's start, told reporters, "I'm definitely planning on this thing being a sooner rather than later... I'm not too worried about a super long-term thing. If I can, I would love to be able to make my next start, but we'll see."
Fried described his injury as feeling like a hyperextension, adding, "There've been numerous starts this year where I've kinda like hyperextended... kinda that banging feeling, it just kinda goes away or you're able to deal with it for a couple pitches. Normally it goes away, this one, I think it's just probably one too many times."
The Yankees are already down two star pitchers in their rotation, making a loss of Fried even more impactful. Ace pitcher Gerrit Cole has yet to return from ligament replacement surgery he underwent in March, though he seems set to come back soon. Additionally, 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil has been playing in the minors for most of the season and was recently placed on the injured list due to inflammation in his right shoulder. The team recently brought back Carlos Rodon after he underwent surgery last October to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur.
