Zack Britton has bruised right wrist after being hit by line drive during live batting practice
The Yankees' Zack Britton delivers a pitch during the sixth inning of a spring training game against the Tigers on Feb. 29 in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
TAMPA, Fla. — When word filtered around Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday morning that Zack Britton had been hit in the right wrist by a line drive while throwing live batting practice, it was reasonable to fear the worst.
But the Yankees, who have had an injury-filled spring training, got some good news a few hours later: X-rays and a CT scan were negative. Britton suffered a bruise on his non-throwing wrist and apparently will not join the long list of Yankees who won't be on the field come Opening Day.
Already, the Yankees have lost Luis Severino for the season due to Tommy John surgery, James Paxton until at least mid-May following back surgery, Aaron Judge for an undisclosed amount of time because of a fractured rib and Giancarlo Stanton for who knows how long to a calf injury. Gary Sanchez, who already is out with a sore back, is away from the team until Friday with the flu.
Britton walked off in obvious discomfort after he was struck by a ball hit by non-roster catcher Erik Kratz.
Britton was pitching live batting practice with no protective screen in front of him, as Adam Ottavino also did earlier on Wednesday morning. There was a screen behind the pitchers, apparently protecting some equipment the Yankees set up to monitor the sessions.
“It’s a bad feeling anytime,” Kratz said of hitting a pitcher with a line drive. “I never want to hit even [someone] you’re competing against.”
Stanton, who hit in the live BP against Ottavino and Britton, is not expected to be ready for -Opening Day. Stanton took both pitchers deep to the opposite field.
Paxton played catch for the first time since the surgery and said he felt “no pain at all.” Paxton said he hadn’t thrown since December. He said the “best-case scenario” is a mid-May start to his season.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
