Stroman Ready to Return to the Mound with the Yankees
Pitcher Marcus Stroman feels ready to pitch again with the New York Yankees, managing the pain in his left knee, a consequence of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear suffered a decade ago.Stroman, 34, hasn’t pitched for the Yankees since April 11, when he allowed five runs in two-thirds of an inning against San Francisco. In three rehab appearances with the Double-A Somerset Patriots, starting June 11, Stroman went 0-1 with an ERA of 6.97. In his last outing, he allowed five runs, 10 hits, and two walks in 3⅔ innings against the Detroit Erie Seawolves.It’s something I try not to think about constantly, because if you’re thinking about it 24/7, you’re not in a good place.
Marcus Stroman
Stroman suffered an ACL tear during spring training with Toronto on March 10, 2015. He underwent surgery nine days later and returned to the Major League mound on September 19 of that year, beating the Yankees in a five-inning outing in the Bronx. He thanked Nikki Huffman, his personal trainer and lead athletic trainer for Toronto from 2018 to 2019, for helping him manage the pain.I’m someone who definitely needs intensity to get going, so I’m looking forward to getting back out there.
Marcus Stroman
Stroman began the season with a 0-1 record and an ERA of 11.57 in three starts. He rejoins a rotation that misses ace Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery), American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil (right lat strain), and lefty Ryan Yarbrough (right oblique strain).It’s my ACL knee that I tore 10 years ago, so I’m figuring out how to deal with the pain, the discomfort, and then, mechanically, how to avoid overdoing it with my knee. When I’m more mechanically efficient, my knee receives less stress.
Marcus Stroman
Last season, Stroman had a 10-9 record with a 4.31 ERA in 29 starts and one relief appearance in 154 2/3 innings, his most since 2021 with the Mets. Stroman struggled in the second half and did not pitch in the postseason, when the Yankees made their first World Series appearance since 2009. Manager Aaron Boone downplayed the last minor league outing. It was a very hot day in Somerset for a veteran who is pitching in Somerset for the third time.He has to dominate. That’s the most important thing, being where he wants on the plate and having presence on both sides of the plate; he can’t live on just one side. What are the shapes of his pitches? Is it sharp?
Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager
Spencer Jones Hits Home Run in His First Triple-A At-Bat
In his first game after his promotion, Spencer Jones hit a home run in his first at-bat for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of Triple-A. Jones, a 6-foot-7-inch, 24-year-old gardener, hit a solo home run in the first inning on Friday night against Worcester’s Tyler Uberstine, driving a low and inside sinker 397 feet to center field. The hit came off his bat at 109.9 mph. Jones went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts in the RailRiders’ 4-2 victory. In Double-A Somerset, he batted .270 with 16 home runs, 32 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and an OPS of .984, striking out 70 times in 175 at-bats.Obviously, the ceiling is real, only the speed, power, and athleticism are real. It’s about covering some holes, continuing to adjust like a big guy, which can be a challenge, but if you master it, it can be incredible. So it’s moving the needle.
Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager
