16 July 2023
DENVER — Aaron Boone didn’t sound optimistic after Josh Donaldson hobbled down the first base line in the seventh inning of the Yankees’ Saturday win over the Rockies.
Donaldson, who was “a little beat up” prior to the All-Star break and designated hitting for the second consecutive day on Saturday, hurt his right calf, according to Boone. The third baseman moved slowly out of the box after hitting a weak groundball to shortstop. As Donaldson approached first base, he began to hop on his left leg before jogging gingerly to the Yankees’ dugout.
“We’ll see,” Boone said when asked if Donaldson was all right. “He’s gonna get testing and stuff but wasn’t great.”
The manager specified that Donaldson will need an MRI.
Asked if it was Donaldson’s calf that had been bothering him before the break, Boone said, “It’s a different spot. It’s been kind of off and on all year.”
If Donaldson goes on the injured list for the second time this year — he hurt his hamstring earlier in the season — prospect Oswald Peraza is a logical replacement.
A shortstop by trade, Peraza has also spent time at second and third this season in the minors and majors. He’s hit fairly well at Triple-A, slashing .262/.355/.497 with 12 home runs and 28 RBI. He’s also stolen 11 bases.
With Peraza producing for the RailRiders, a large number of Yankees fans were already clamoring for him to take playing time from Donaldson, who is hitting .142 with a .659 OPS after going 0-for-4 on Saturday. Donaldson, 37, does have 10 home runs in 33 games this season, but he’s only totaled 15 hits and just as many RBI.
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