Luke Voit has the build of a professional wrestler, and after Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Tigers he sounded like he was ready to enter the ring.
Voit was “pissed off” after getting hit by a pitch from Joe Jimenez in the eighth inning then getting shown up by Jimenez on an unassisted double play moments later.
Jimenez hit Voit in the left hand with one out in the eighth. Voit was clearly in pain but shook it off and went to first base.
“It’s just the second time I’ve been hit in the area this year,” said Voit, who also was hit on Opening Day last week. “I get it, they’re trying to pitch up and in, but especially with all the injuries going around, it’s frustrating. I could have been the guy that’s No. 7 on the disabled list. I get it. He’s not trying to do it on purpose, but you never know what can happen. It’s just frustrating.”
Voit had X-rays after the game that came back negative, and he said he expects to be in the lineup Wednesday for the series finale with the Tigers.
Jimenez was not done upsetting Voit after hitting him, though. Gleyber Torres followed Voit and hit the ball back to Jimenez, who caught it then ran to first to double off Voit. Jimenez made a show of jumping onto the base, something to which Voit took exception.
“Yeah, a little bit,” Voit said when asked if it bothered him.
The YES Network cameras caught Voit shouting a few expletives in Jimenez’s direction as he walked off the field.
The Yankees were just happy to escape the game without another injury. After losing Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Andujar on Monday, manager Aaron Boone paused when Voit got hit.
“Obviously, a little hesitation there just hoping he’s fine,” Boone said. “Then, I saw where it got him in the hand, probably a good spot. There’s a little mark there. I felt like he’s OK. That was a little bit of a relief, but definitely a hold-your-breath moment.”