Yankees RHP Betances (Achilles) out for season

New York Yankees reliever Dellin Betances has a partial tear of his left Achilles tendon and is out for the year, manager Aaron Boone told reporters Tuesday night.

The powerful right-hander sustained the injury Sunday during Betances' season debut, Boone said. The team learned the severity of the injury when Betances underwent testing on Tuesday.

"When he jumped on the mound the other day, I think he came down a little awkwardly, and I don't think he thought anything of it," Boone said. "When he came in today, he was sore, kind of going through some tests. He couldn't do some things like kind of getting up on his tip toe on it, so we're going to go hold him out. Then we decided let's go make sure we get some imaging on this, and then it revealed the partial tear."

Surgery is not recommended but could be possible down the road, according to Boone.

"So obviously heartbroken for Dellin, and knowing him working so hard to get back to this point to be a factor for us," the manager said. "To have him successfully debut for us the other day and now this. ... My heart goes out to him."

The injury marks the latest setback in a trying season for Betances, who struck out the only two batters he faced Sunday at Toronto in his lone appearance of the season. He was returning from shoulder and lat injuries.

Betances, 31, had hoped to be a key part of a Yankees' postseason run, but now he will head into free agency in the winter in rehab mode. The four-time All-Star has a whopping 621 career strikeouts in 381 2/3 career innings, compiling a 21-22 record with 36 saves in 358 appearances, all but one in relief.

--Field Level Media