New York Yankees star right fielder Juan Soto is dealing with inflammation in his left forearm and is day-to-day, manager Aaron Boone confirmed to reporters on Friday.
Soto underwent an MRI on Friday, one day after being pulled from Thursday night’s game amid a rain delay due to forearm discomfort. The MRI revealed only inflammation, and Boone said “as of now” he expects Soto to avoid a stint on the injured list.
Soto is not in the starting lineup for New York in its series opener versus the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Aaron Judge will play in right field, while Trent Grisham will man center field and bat eighth in the lineup.
But Boone said Soto could be available off the bench Friday or make his return later in the three-game weekend series.
Soto also underwent testing on his left elbow, which revealed no ligament damage, Boone said.
Soto didn’t return following a 56-minute rain delay in between the fifth and sixth innings of Thursday’s game between the Yankees and the Minnesota Twins. Judge slid over from left field and Alex Verdugo entered the game and played left field.
“It’s not any specific activity,” Soto said following Thursday’s 8-5 win. “It’s kind of funny that it doesn’t hurt me whenever I throw or hit. It’s more like soreness that I feel with any kind of move that I make with my arm. But definitely it doesn’t stop me from doing anything baseball-wise in the field.”
Soto, 25, went 0-for-1 and drew a pair of walks off Minnesota starter Pablo Lopez. He is hitting .318, which led the American League going into Friday’s games, with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in his first season for the Yankees after being acquired in December from the San Diego Padres.
A three-time All-Star, Soto previously had started every game this season.
–Field Level Media
