Top prospect Estevan Florial to have surgery on right hamate bone
Estevan Florial of the New York Yankees and the World Team catches a ball hit by Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays and the U.S. Team for an out in the fifth inning during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park. July 9, 2017. Credit: Getty Images / Rob Carr
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One of the Yankees top prospects will be down for at least a month but probably longer.
Outfielder Estevan Florial, who left Thursday night’s game for high Class A Tampa with right wrist soreness, will have hamate surgery on the wrist. The 20-year-old will be out at least four weeks but could be out eight or more.
“Hopefully, it’s just a little bump in the road,” Aaron Boone said before Friday night’s game against the Royals. “I had surgery on my hamate, too [as a player], and recall it not being that long of a thing. Hopefully, it’s just a little break in the action.”
Florial, the top position prospect in the organization, was off to a slow start with Tampa, slashing .246/.353/.343 in 36 games but that hasn’t impacted how the Yankees, or other teams, view him.
Boone said he recalled missing “around four weeks,” after his surgery but acknowledged not all are the same.
“His is a little different. I hurt mine getting hit by a pitch,” Boone said. “Most time, hamate injuries happen from check swings or swings. I don’t know how that affects the time line. But I remember for me, I feel like I played a game again four weeks later.”
n Torres staying put
Boone said though he’d be comfortable hitting second baseman Gleyber Torres just about anywhere, including leadoff, for now he’s not looking to bump the rookie up from the No. 9-hole.
“I’ve considered different days moving him up based on who we’re giving a day off today, but I don’t think you’ll see it just because he’s been so good down there,” Boone said. “To have a guy that’s been as impactful, he serves almost as another leadoff hitter down there. I don’t have any plans right now moving him up but it’s always a fluid situation.”
n Not ideal
With days off Monday and Thursday sandwiching the rain-shortened series in Washington, that meant the Yankees came into Friday playing all of 5 1⁄2 innings this week.
“Obviously, we’re creatures of habit and it’s an everyday game but I don’t worry about it because of who these guys are and I know they’ll come out focused,” Boone said. “But you prefer to have a little more regular play going on.”
n Frazier set
Boone said outfield prospect Clint Frazier, brought up earlier in the week initially just to play in the two-game series in Washington but kept on the roster for this series, is “likely” to start Saturday night as the Royals are throwing lefty Danny Duffy. The righty-hitting Frazier, who missed most of spring camp and the start of the regular season recovering from a concussion, could also play Sunday against lefty Eric Skoglund.
n Steady play at 3B
Boone no longer looks to replace rookie third baseman Miguel Andujar with Ronald Torreyes late in games, a common occurrence earlier in the season.
“I think he’s earned that,” Boone said of Andujar staying on the field for all nine innings. “He’s making the plays he should make. And I think offensively and defensively, it’s just a case of him basically earning more playing time, more time to stay in the game. It’s a tribute to his overall play that’s allowed him to stay out there.”
