1 August 2023
Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson doesn’t consider his calf injury to be season-ending.
Donaldson took batting practice and fielded ground balls before Monday’s game at Yankee Stadium, less than two weeks after he was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Asked Monday if he plans to return this season, Donaldson replied, “Yes, I hope so. I feel really good right now, relative to what the initial results were.”
The 37-year-old last played on July 15, when he aggravated a right calf issue while running to first base on a groundout against the Colorado Rockies. He was diagnosed with a high-grade strain soon after.
Donaldson was initially placed on the 10-day injured list but was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 19.
“As a competitor, you want to be out and helping your team as often as you can,” Donaldson said. “I don’t make those decisions, but I feel good where I’m at right now.”
Donaldson also missed most of April and all of May with a hamstring injury. He has batted .142 with 10 home runs and 15 RBI in 33 games this season.
The 2015 American League MVP says his limp went away about five or six days after he suffered the calf strain, and that he was able to resume some activity about 10 or 11 days after the injury.
“I do feel better than I expected to, for sure,” Donaldson said Monday.
“I want to move around. I think the earlier and more active you can be without a rehab process, the better.”
Donaldson is in his second season with the Yankees, who acquired him along with utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa and catcher Ben Rortvedt in a 2022 trade with the Minnesota Twins. He batted .222 with 15 home runs and 62 RBI last year.
The three-time All-Star has also played for Oakland, Toronto, Cleveland and Atlanta.
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