Yankees Make Minor Roster Move Ahead of Home Opener
The Yankees will not have relief pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga for the foreseeable future due to a right hip flexor strain.
By Jovan Alford
Ahead of Friday’s home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, the New York Yankees made a notable roster move that will impact their bullpen going forward.
The Yankees announced on Friday morning that they placed relief pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga on the 60-day injured list, retroactive to Apr. 4, with a right hip flexor strain. To take Loaisiga’s spot on the active roster, the Yankees signed right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana to a major league contract.
Prior to today’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves:
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 5, 2024
• Placed RHP Jonathan Loáisiga on the 60-day injured list (retroactive to 4/4) with a right flexor strain.
• Signed RHP Dennis Santana (#53) to a Major League contract and selected him to the active roster.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone told the media on Friday that the veteran relief pitcher has a “significant forearm strain”, per Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Joyce adds that Loaisiga had an MRI on Thursday night and will meet with doctors on Friday to determine the next steps.
Boone just called it a “significant forearm strain.” Loaisiga had an MRI last night, meeting with doctors today to figure out next steps. https://t.co/1p9NraVGP5
— Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) April 5, 2024
The injury bug hasn’t been too friendly to Yankees pitchers to start the season as Gerrit Cole, Tommy Kahnle, and Scott Effross have all dealt with something. New York had big plans for Loaisiga this season as one of their better bullpen arms.
The 29-year-old right-handed pitcher made three relief appearances this season, allowing seven hits, and a walk, while recording three strikeouts across four innings.
The veteran reliever missed most of the 2023 campaign because of a bone spur injury, which forced him to get arthroscopic surgery last April. However, Loaisiga returned to the mound in August, making 14 relief appearances.
The Yankees hope Santana can build off an impressive Spring Training, where he had an ERA of 2.79 in seven appearances (one start). The 28-year-old right-handed pitcher allowed 12 hits, three earned runs (one home run), and one walk, but struck out 13 batters over 9.2 innings.
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