The New York Yankees are holding their breath as shortstop José Caballero deals with a finger injury that could sideline him for a stretch. The 27-year-old infielder hurt his right middle finger while diving back to first base during Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, and he was notably absent from the starting lineup Monday night as the Yankees opened a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Manager Aaron Boone didn’t mince words when discussing the situation before Monday’s game. “There's definitely some concern,” Boone said. “He's as tough as they come, but he had a little hard time when he went to throw today.” The skipper confirmed that Caballero will visit a hand specialist in New York on Tuesday for further evaluation, which may include an MRI to check for a possible fracture.
Through 40 games this season, Caballero has been a spark plug for the Yankees, batting .259 with four home runs, 13 RBIs, and an impressive 13 stolen bases. His all-around play has made him a key piece of a team that, despite a three-game losing streak heading into Baltimore, has started the season on solid footing. “He's been great,” Boone added. “He's been such a good performer for us here to start the year, both sides of the ball. He's been a key part of our team to this point.”
For now, the Yankees are taking a cautious approach. “Hopefully, it's just a day-to-day situation,” Boone said. In Caballero’s absence, Max Schuemann got the start at shortstop on Monday, giving the team a glimpse of its depth up the middle.
In other encouraging news, slugger Giancarlo Stanton is inching closer to a return from a right calf strain that has kept him out since April 28. Boone noted that Stanton has been “doing a lot of inside running and hitting every day” and could ramp up his activity this week. Since Stanton is expected to serve as a designated hitter upon his return, his recovery timeline may be shorter than typical for a position player. “He's coming back to DH, so it's more when he's able to stack a few days of running,” Boone explained. “We'll see.”
As the Yankees navigate these early-season bumps, fans will be watching closely—both for updates on Caballero’s finger and for Stanton’s eventual return to the lineup.