In a concerning development for the New York Yankees, key reliever Scott Effross was forced to leave Tuesday’s spring training game against the Minnesota Twins after throwing just one pitch due to a severe injury. Effross, who had been looking to solidify his spot in the bullpen, grabbed at his leg before walking off the mound with a team trainer, raising alarms about his health heading into the season.
Following the Yankees’ 5-4 loss to the Twins, manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Effross had sustained a hamstring injury. Boone stated that further testing would be conducted to determine the severity of the injury and how much time the right-hander might miss.
Effross’ injury could prove to be a significant setback, as the 29-year-old has already battled a series of injuries in recent seasons. After being traded to the Yankees from the Cubs at the 2022 deadline, he underwent Tommy John surgery, and in December 2023, he had back surgery, further delaying his return to action. Since his trade to the Yankees, Effross has only appeared in 16 games, including just 3 1/3 innings in the majors.
This spring, Effross had been one of the pitchers highlighted by Boone for his improved performance, with the manager noting that his stuff had been sharper as he recovered from past injuries. The right-hander was expected to compete for a key role in the bullpen, and with his minor-league options remaining, Effross needed a strong spring to avoid starting the season in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. However, this injury casts doubt on his ability to prove himself and secure a major league spot.
As the Yankees await further news on Effross’ condition, the team is left hoping that the injury isn’t as severe as initially feared, and that he can continue his quest to contribute to the Yankees’ bullpen this season.
