Yankees activate Harrison Bader off injured list, demote Franchy Cordero
After two straight crippling losses, the Yankees began Tuesday with some positive news.
The team has activated center fielder Harrison Bader, who has yet to play in the majors this season due to a left oblique strain suffered early in spring training. Aaron Boone said Monday that such a decision could happen Tuesday.
“I’m excited to get back in the lineup and just start playing some baseball and helping these guys win,” said Bader, who played center and hit fifth Tuesday against the Guardians.
The Yanks demoted Franchy Cordero in a corresponding move.
Bader appeared in seven minor league rehab games, during which he slashed .120/.185/.160 with three hits, one double and one RBI over 27 plate appearances. While the Bronxville native’s rehab numbers are nothing to get excited about, Boone said the 28-year-old has hit the ball hard and felt good following his injury.
The expectation is for Bader, a defensive wiz, to stabilize the middle of the Yankees’ outfield while adding some speed and a roughly league-average bat to a lineup that’s been much worse.
“He brings some power and some speed to the lineup,” Boone said, “as well as premium defense.”
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge, who went on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right hip strain, shared time in center with Bader sidelined. Kiner-Falefa had never played the position in the majors before this season, while Hicks’ defense has been a concern in center and left. Boone said that Kiner-Falefa will have chances to spell Bader, play left field and return to the infield on occasion.
The manager and Bader also said that the Yankees’ needs and struggles didn’t influence the decision to activate Bader when the team did.
“That can never be a part of the equation,” Bader said. “It’s easy to kind of fall into that. But there was never any pressure from the Yankees on their side to push anything along. The same on my side. I know what I have to feel to be effective for this team to help them win.”
The outfielder added that he watched the Yankees every day while rehabbing. Now Bader expects to be a full-go as he looks to help them correct course, though Boone will surely look to give him a day here and there as he reacclimates to the majors.
“From my perspective, there’s no walking on eggshells,” Bader said.
Bader has only played in 14 regular season games since the Yankees acquired him last summer in a deal that sent starter Jordan Montgomery to the Cardinals. Bader was recovering from plantar fasciitis at the time, but he got a few games in before bashing five home runs over nine playoff contests.
Bader, now in his seventh major league season, has hit .245/.317/.405 with 52 homers, 177 RBI, 57 stolen bases and a 97 OPS+ for his career.
