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Jacoby Ellsbury Forced From Game After Hit By Pitch vs. Atlanta Braves

By Kenneth Teape

Mar 19, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (22) reacts after being hit by a pitch during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Ellsbury left the game with a hand injury. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (22) reacts after being hit by a pitch during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Ellsbury left the game with a hand injury. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jacoby Ellsbury has put a scare into the New York Yankees, as he was hit by a pitch on Saturday and forced from the Spring Training game against the Atlanta Braves.

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Jacoby Ellsbury was looking to bounce back in 2016 after his 2015 season was derailed by injuries. Injuries have been a concern almost every season for the 32-year old center fielder, as he seems to miss some amount of time every year because of an ailment. So you can understand why everyone involved with the Yankees held their collective breath on Saturday when Ellsbury was forced from the Spring Training game against the Atlanta Braves.

Ellsbury was struck in the right arm by a pitch from Julio Teheran in the fifth inning. Ellsbury exited the game immediately, as he bent over in pain wincing and holding the arm that was hit. Ellsbury was loading to swing when he was struck on the wrist/forearm area of his right arm.

About 30 minutes after the injury, the Yankees announced that Ellsbury would undergo X-Rays to determine the extent of the injury. The extent was not yet known otherwise according to Ryan Hatch of NJ.com. He will be examined by doctors later in the day, but the video is not promising for a player as fragile as Ellsbury is.

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Ellsbury missed seven weeks of the 2015 season with a right knee sprain, which just added to a lengthy list of injuries that Ellsbury has suffered in his career. The injury really derailed Ellsbury last season, as he was never able to get things on track and was not even in the lineup for the American League Wild Card game; Joe Girardi left him on the bench in a one-game elimination against the Houston Astros.

It is too early to tell if Ellsbury will be sidelined for a period of time, but if he is Aaron Hicks will receive the first shot at replacing him in centerfield. The Yankees acquired Hicks from the Minnesota Twins in the offseason for catcher John Ryan Murphy, and he is expected to fill the role as the fourth outfielder off the bench. His ability to play all three positions will be a useful thing for Girardi, but his defense in centerfield is his calling card.

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The Yankees are hoping it doesn’t come down to that though, as they are hoping Ellsbury comes away with a bruise at worst and can get back into the lineup in a couple days. Unfortunately with his injury history, it would surprise no one if Ellsbury is sidelined for a period of time and the Yankees do not have their starting centerfielder heading into the regular season.

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