The New York Yankees got some more bad news just hours before their Opening Day matchup against the Houston Astros. Pitcher Bryan Mitchell underwent toe surgery yesterday and is expected to miss four months.
Manager Joe Girardi made the announcement this morning after it was reported last week that the right-hander could miss up to three months with Grade 3 turf toe. Mitchell, 24, suffered the injury covering first base during a spring training game last week, which was the same game reliever Andrew Miller was struck in the hand with a line drive.
Mitchell was expected to play a big role with the MLB club in 2016 after the Yankees traded relievers Adam Warren and Justin Wilson this offseason (in addition to dealing with Aroldis Chapman's 30-game suspension). The former 16th round pick in the 2009 MLB Draft made his debut in 2014, but then endured a poor 2015 campaign with the Yanks and went 0-2 with a 6.37 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 20 games (two starts), totaling 29-2/3 innings.
New York was hoping he'd take that next step this year, and he certainly did. The 24-year-old had a tremendous spring training and finished 2-0 with a 0.57 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 12 strikeouts in six games (three starts), totaling 15-2/3 innings. However, he'll now join Chapman on the sidelines as the Yankees try to figure out how to shuffle around their bullpen.
Mitchell's injury could open the door for rookie Luis Cessa to assume a bigger role this season. The right-hander, who was traded from the Mets to the Tigers in the Yoenis Cespedes deal at last year's non-waiver deadline, allowed four earned runs on 10 hits and three walks over 11 innings (six games) this spring. He made the Opening Day roster and is expected to get work out of the bullpen. New York acquired him this offseason in the deal that sent Wilson to the Detroit Tigers.
As for the others, New York will rely on Chasen Shreve, Johnny Barbato, Kirby Yates and Ivan Nova to put in some innings behind Miller and Dellin Betances as the club waits for Chapman's return.