Yankees health on the rise

Things are starting to look up for the New York Yankees on the health front. The team has been suffering through numerous injuries this year, and still have quite a few players out due to injury. The wounded list include Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Ian Kennedy and Philip Hughes. All of these guys are starting to stir and itching to get back to the Bronx.

Hideki Matsui is back to taking batting practice, and probably not to far from a rehab appearance in the minors. Matsui took 55 cuts in Saturday and reported no pain, he is scheduled to take BP again on Sunday. The Yankees other left fielder, Johnny Damon should begin swinging a bat on Monday. Damon says his shoulder is feeling “a lot better” and plans on taking a crack at a batting tee on Monday. He’s still a little ways off but should return right around the 15-day time frame.

Phillip Hughes is finally throwing a ball again after suffering a broken rib in April. The right hander threw 25 pitches in his first mound session. Unfortunately, Girardi isn’t counting on Hughes till late August, early September range. Makes sense as it will take quite a few starts to get back into shape after such a long lay off.

The center piece of the Gary Sheffield trade with the Tigers is also back on the mound. Humberto Sanchez threw a scoreless inning, striking out two on Saturday for the Yankees Gulf Coast League team. He’s not expected to contribute this year, but could be considered a dark horse for a September call-up bullpen spot. On a side note, the Colorado Rockies had a scout at the game Sanchez appeared in. The Yankees have been in almost every rumor surrounding Brian Fuentes so it’s no surprise the Rockies are scouting the minor leaguers out.

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Tags: MLB, New York Yankees