Yankees Notebook: Nestor Cortes starts throwing Ian Hamilton begins rehab

BOSTON – As the Yankees prepared for a doubleheader against the Red Sox on Sunday, Nestor Cortes threw for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list with a left rotator cuff strain.

The southpaw, who last pitched on May 30, played catch on the field at Fenway Park. Prior to doing so, he told the Daily News that his shoulder has been feeling better.

“We’ll see today how I respond to throwing, but exercises have been good,” Cortes said. “My everyday life has been pretty good. Taking off shirts and holding stuff up and holding weight.”

Cortes had been having trouble recovering between his last few starts, and he finally told the Yankees about the issue on their west coast road trip, which ended at the start of June. Cortes attributed the problem to “general wear and tear” after landing on the IL.

“It’s been better,” Cortes added Sunday when asked if he experienced irregular soreness after working out. Aaron Boone added that he wasn’t sure yet what Cortes’ build-up will look like, but he was glad to see him throwing as scheduled after a 15-day shut-down.

Prior to getting hurt, Cortes had not been the same pitcher that earned his first career All-Star nod in 2022. He’s had trouble toward the end of starts and when facing a lineup the third time through.

Cortes is 5-2 this season, but he owns a 5.16 ERA over 59.1 innings.

Hamilton’s a patriot

Ian Hamilton, out since May 17 with a groin strain, began a rehab assignment with the Double-A Somerset Patriots on Sunday. If that goes well, Boone expected the righty to pitch again on Tuesday. The Yankees want Hamilton to make at least three rehab appearances before activating him.

“So possibly at the backend of the homestand,” Boone said of Hamilton’s return, “but maybe more likely the road trip.”

The Yankees begin their homestand on Tuesday with a series against the Mariners. Their next road trip begins June 27 in Oakland.

Hamilton had been enjoying a breakout season before getting hurt, recording a 1.23 ERA over a career-high 22 innings.

Injured outfielders

Boone said he did not consider activating Harrison Bader (hamstring) on Sunday. “He should be good to go for Tuesday,” the manager said.

Bader has played in three rehab games for Somerset, including appearances on Friday and Saturday. The Yankees initially planned on activating him this past Friday, but Boone said Bader and the team wanted to be cautious and get the centerfielder some more action in the outfield.

Bader went 2-for-12 with five strikeouts during his rehab stint.

Aaron Judge, meanwhile, is doing better now that he’s a few days removed from a second PRP shot in his big right toe.

“The second shot he had [Thursday], I know he was pretty beat up that first day,” Boone said. “He was in a lot of pain, and I know yesterday he was a lot better and seemed to be walking in normal today.”

Father’s Day

While some Yankees players and personnel had to abandon Father’s Day plans on Sunday morning and afternoon due to the unscheduled doubleheader, Boone took a minute to reflect on his dad.

Bob Boone, 75, spent 19 years in the majors, catching for the Phillies, Angels and Royals from 1972-1990. He then managed Kansas City from 1995-1997 and Cincinnati from 2001-2003. He moved into a front office role in 2005.

“I’m just so grateful that I had a dad that took us to work with him all the time. All the time! He came up the end of ‘72. I was born in the spring of ‘73. He played until my senior year in high school,” the younger Boone said. “My brothers and I would, in uni, shag, doing everything you could possibly imagine. It’s a great way to grow up. And I just had a dad that loved us, wasn’t overbearing as far as forcing us into any direction. Just kind of do what you love and do it to the best of your ability was kind of the rule we lived by. Grateful for him and grateful he’s still around.”

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from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/Zp7Rwtn