UPDATE: The New York Yankees are facing a potential setback as first baseman Paul Goldschmidt suffers a low-grade right knee sprain. The team is considering placing Goldschmidt on the injured list just before their upcoming series against the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend.
This urgent development comes as the Yankees evaluate Goldschmidt during their day off. The decision will be made before Friday’s game against the Cardinals. Manager Aaron Boone stated, “He’s dealing with something so we’ll see if it’s an IL situation,” following Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Goldschmidt sustained the injury while attempting to catch a foul pop by Byron Buxton during the third inning of Tuesday’s 9-1 victory. “I felt that it was sore yesterday but obviously was able to play through it,” Goldschmidt explained. Despite the pain, he remained in the game, even hitting a double in the seventh inning before being substituted.
As of now, Goldschmidt is hitting an impressive .276 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs this season. He has been a defensive anchor for the Yankees, boasting a .996 fielding percentage and only three errors in 745 chances this year. His absence would be felt significantly, as teammate Cody Bellinger noted, “He’s been a huge part of this team. He’s a vacuum over there.”
Goldschmidt, who signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract last December after a successful stint with the Cardinals, did not start Wednesday’s game and was absent from pinch-hitting opportunities. His performance against left-handed pitching has been remarkable, hitting .404 this season.
The Yankees now look to assess Goldschmidt’s health thoroughly before making a decision that could impact their lineup significantly. Stay tuned for updates as this situation develops, especially as the Yankees prepare for a critical series against their former star’s current team.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Goldschmidt will be ready to take the field on Friday or if he will be sidelined, which could impact the Yankees’ playoff push.
