New York Yankees fans react to Josh Donaldson likely going on IL with hamstring injury: "Take your time back bro" "60 day IL please"
The hopes and dreams of New York Yankees fans came true Friday as the team manager said that Josh Donaldson appears to be heading to the injured list.
Donaldson experienced a sore right hamstring in Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. He was pulled from the contest after limping to first base.
The 37-year-old third baseman has ranked among the least favorite players in recent team history. Fans have largely celebrated the news that Donaldson would be shelved for an indefinite period.
Josh Donaldson is likely going on the IL, per @ChrisKirschner
Josh Donaldson was acquired along with utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa in a multi-player trade with the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2022 season. Donaldson has hit .219 with just 16 home runs and 63 RBIs in 137 games with the Yankees.
After rumors of his possible retirement were squashed this past off-season, Donaldson returned to play out the final year of a four-year, $92 million contract. His return was much to the chagrin of New Yorkers. Retirement would have saved the team approximately $27 million dollars this season, funds that could have been spent on obtaining more pitching or outfield help.
After insisting that he still has much to contribute to the New York Yankees, Donaldson stumbled out of the gate by hitting a scant .125 with one home run and one lone RBI in five games. He is lustily booed upon every plate appearance at Yankee Stadium.
Needless to say, New Yorkers are in no rush to see Donaldson return.
@TalkinYanks @ChrisKirschner Take your time back bro
@TalkinYanks @ChrisKirschner 60 Day IL please
@TalkinYanks @ChrisKirschner Seems pretty serious, he should thoroughly make sure it's okay. Take the recommended recovery, double it. Once that's done, stay home.
Upon hearing the news of Donaldson's forthcoming IL stint, many Yankee fans took to Twitter to beg for the team to call up heralded prospect Oswald Peraza. Peraza, the team's No. 3-ranked prospect, lost out to top prospect Anthony Volpe for the team's starting shortstop position. He was sent down to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre.
A middle infielder by trade, fans are clamoring for the Yankees to try slick fielding Peraza at third base after he hit .306 in a brief debut late last regular season. He was included on the team's postseason roster, but was sent down this spring to play regularly and is currently hitting .292 at Triple-A.
@TalkinYanks @ChrisKirschner Come take and keep the job Oswald. Let's go.
@TalkinYanks @ChrisKirschner Bring him up now https://t.co/TQE6kzdFcr
@TalkinYanks @ChrisKirschner announce peraza call-up
However, according to Boone himself, the Yankees will fill Donaldson's role with veterans already on the big-league roster. The list includes Kiner-Falefa, DJ LeMahieu, and Oswaldo Cabrera.
@TalkinYanks @ChrisKirschner Peraza isnβt getting called up everybody lol. They still donβt need him. DJLM will play 3rd and Gleyber will play 2nd. Cabrera and IKF as back infielders.
@TalkinYanks @ChrisKirschner This does not mean Peraza is coming up #pitching
Whether or not Peraza ultimately benefits from Josh Donaldson's injury, New York Yankees fans are nearly unanimous in their view that Donaldson's loss is an addition by subtraction to the team.
@TalkinYanks @ChrisKirschner Unfortunately, this is really great news for the Yankees.
@TalkinYanks @ChrisKirschner We got lucky π€π»
Josh Donaldson an anchor on New York Yankees
The mid-March 2022 trade really hasn't worked out for either team. The trade sent Donaldson, Kiner-Falefa, and catcher Ben Rortvedt to New York. In exchange, Minnesota received catcher Gary Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela.
Donaldson and Kiner-Falefa have underperformed and are reviled in New York, while Rortvedt hasn't played since 2021 due to knee surgery. Urshela and Sanchez were both one-year-and-done with the Twins. Urshela is now with the Los Angeles Angels. Sanchez is sitting at home waiting for an MLB team to call and inquire about his services.