SAN DIEGO – Innings after the Yankees had hurt Padres pitcher Yu Darvish, Jon Berti left Friday’s 8-0 win in real pain.
After hitting a grounder to the right side in the final frame, Berti took two steps out of the batter’s box before falling to the ground. The infielder remained there for several minutes before trainers helped him off the field.
Berti was unable to put any weight on his left side as he limped toward the Yankees’ clubhouse at Petco Park.
“It looks like a calf injury,” Aaron Boone said. “I just grabbed it out of the box. Then we’ll see what we have. I’m sure we’ll get pictures and all that. But obviously the way he left it seemed like he had done pretty well.”
Acquired from the Marlins hours before Opening Day, Berti has already spent time on the disabled list this season. A left groin strain left him on the shelf from April 13 to May 4.
Berti, a speedster with some contact skills, has hit .273 with one home run, six RBIs and four stolen bases in 17 games. The Yankees hoped he would be a big boost to their bench, as he is capable of playing all over the diamond even though he has only played third base with the team so far.
Berti is arbitration eligible this offseason, so the Yankees acquired him in a trade with the idea of using him next season as well.
“He’s a very good addition to our team,” Boone said. “The speed he brings, the defense he brings. We haven’t seen the defensive versatility that he has simply because third base has been the place. He gives you that quality at-bat at the bottom of the order. He is a good player and I hope this does not bring him down for long because he will also become a very important part of our bench in the future.”
Berti has only played third, a position he shares with Oswaldo Cabrera, because DJ LeMahieu is recovering from a non-displaced fracture in his right foot.
Over the past week, the Yankees have said the plan is for LeMahieu to make his 2024 debut on Tuesday when the team is in Anaheim.
That plan is not going to change, no matter what Berti’s images say.
“No,” Boone said when asked if LeMahieu would be activated early. “Assuming it’s an IL (for Berti), we’ll bring in someone else for a couple of days. “We want DJ to at least have his next two (rehab games) on Saturday and Sunday in Scranton.”
Since LeMahieu is not yet an option, the Yankees have limited minor league infield options on their 40-man roster. Oswald Peraza, fresh off his own rehab assignment for a shoulder strain, is the only one with Major League experience.
BURDI BACK TO IL
On Friday, the Yankees placed Nick Burdi on the 15-day injured list with right hip inflammation for the second time this season.
Boone said the injury “reappeared” again. The Yankees will let the swelling “calm down” for a few days before evaluating next steps.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to be,” Boone said.
Burdi has been strong when healthy, posting a 1.86 ERA in 9.2 innings. However, the right-hander has a long history of injuries.
The Yankees promoted Yoendrys Gómez in place of Burdi. The young right-hander struck out the team in the ninth inning on Friday, but is likely just a stopgap as Ian Hamilton is expected to return from the COVID-19 IL on Sunday.
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