Clint Frazier’s comeback was cut short Monday when the Yankees returned him from a rehab assignment and transferred him to the 60-day injured list.
The outfielder pulled himself from Double-A Somerset’s lineup on Sunday after “just not feeling where he needed to be,” according to Aaron Boone. The manager said Frazier’s symptoms were similar to the ones — initially described as dizziness and vertigo, then vision issues — that landed him on the 10-day injured list on July 2.
“A good decision for him, knowing he wasn’t full-bore ready to go,” Boone said Monday. “Glad he was able to have the courage to pull the plug on it.”
Frazier’s exact diagnosis, or what caused it, was never fully revealed. But the Yankees had run him through a battery of tests — including ruling out it being related to his past concussion issues — and believed Frazier had turned a corner when they sent him on the rehab assignment, which ultimately lasted three games.
Monday, Boone was noncommittal on whether Frazier would play again.
“We’ll see,” Boone said. “Obviously he’s been through a lot and seen a lot of people and a lot of testing and everything. We’ll just try to continue to follow and support him where we can. But as of right now, a little holding pattern. I know he feels well today. We’ll just see.”
After being scratched from his rehab start Friday — which could have been his last before returning to the Yankees — because of shoulder tightness, Luis Severino underwent an MRI on Monday. But Boone was not ready to divulge the findings, pointing to meetings with doctors later on Monday to “have a better feel.”
Gary Sanchez (COVID-19) took batting practice on the field at Yankee Stadium on Monday and is likely to be activated for Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Red Sox. That became more evident after Monday’s game when the Yankees returned catcher Rob Brantly, who had replaced Sanchez on the roster, to Triple-A.
The Yankees also returned reliever Stephen Ridings to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to clear the way for Jordan Montgomery, who came back from the COVID-19 IL and is scheduled to start one of Tuesday’s games against the Red Sox.
“I found a wall and threw into it,” said Montgomery, who felt like he had a cold and added that his arm felt “incredible.”
“Once Gerrit [Cole] started feeling better, I drove out and threw with him the last three days of it. Just tried to do something so I didn’t lose my mind in my room.”
Anthony Rizzo (COVID-19) also underwent his cardiac screening Monday and could rejoin the Yankees on Tuesday for a baseball workout if everything goes well. Boone said he didn’t think it would be too long before Rizzo could be activated.
3B Gio Urshela (hamstring strain) ran at about 80 percent Monday and could advance to hitting and taking ground balls Tuesday. Boone said he could begin a rehab assignment by the end of the week.
RHP Corey Kluber (shoulder strain) will make his second rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. … SS Gleyber Torres (thumb sprain) is “improving,” Boone said, but is still not swinging a bat. … LHP Andrew Heaney will start Wednesday against the Red Sox. … The Yankees returned RHP Brooks Kriske to SWB to make room on the roster for Cole to start Monday.