Scott Effross has faced a battle with his health for years. Back surgeries, Tommy John, the endless rehab—everything! But coming into the spring of 2025, he was hoping for the light at the end of the tunnel. The stage was set for his return, and the New York Yankees were excited.
But just like that, another bad luck hit.
Effross had taken the mound on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins. And in the eighth inning, he got one pitch. That’s all he got before everything crashed down. He hurt himself and left with a trainer. And adding to that, Aaron Boone has confirmed the worst.
Scott Effross Diagnosed With Grade 2 Hamstring Strain https://t.co/8eBWa24UEN pic.twitter.com/GmmSL4tIy6
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) February 27, 2025
Boone affirmed that Effross had suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He already got a PRP injection, but as far as returning goes, the timeline is not certain.
“It’s going to take some time,” Boone said.
Fate played another cruel joke on Effross. Way back in 2022, the New York Yankees had taken a chance on him, taking him in from the Chicago Cubs with the hopes that he would be a steady hand in the bullpen. In the early days, he showed flashes of his dominance too. But then the injuries kept knocking on his doors, and it hasn’t stopped yet.
Scott Effross ended 2022 with Tommy John, and then this itself cost him the next complete year. Then, as he was just starting to claw back, his back gave up, and he needed another surgery. And now his hamstring!
For sure, the Yankees bullpen has taken another hit. Aaron Boone’s options are thinning out quite fast.
Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Mark Leither Jr., and Ian Hamilton are expected to shoulder much of the work. And now Fernando Cruz will probably see more responsibility, and even Marcus Stroman can see more mound time. The New York Yankees have managed without Effross and seems like they just have to do the same moving forward—again! So, that might not be the only concern!
New York Yankees face a flurry of players injured
It’s not just news about Scott Effross that Aaron Boone had to deliver. He also pointed out that Giancarlo Stanton’s status right now is ‘uncertain’ for the start of the season as he is suffering from tennis elbow in both arms. This is bad news for the Yankees. It’s an issue that haunted him last season and has seemingly come to bite him back.
Image credits: Imago
Moreover, the 35-year-old DH is away from camp, but that is due to personal reasons and not absence due to an injury, according to Boone. “He was doing stuff, and then he kind of shut down; he’s been getting treatments, so it’s just something we don’t want to rush,” mentioned Boone.
But it’s not just Stanton! There are also a series of other injuries affecting the bullpen.
Chase Hampton is out for the season after his Tommy John surgery, Clarke Smith has back stiffness, and then Jake Cousins is struggling with a forearm strain. Clayton Beeter is dealing with shoulder issues, and Jonathan Loaisiga is recovering from an internal brace surgery.
So, rumors have started about how the Yankees might go back to the market and maybe get JD Martinez as a DH. Do you think they will take that plunge instead of waiting around for Stanton to come to perfect health?
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