Scott Effross threw one pitch on Tuesday against the Twins before coming out of the game.AP
Yankees reliever Scott Effross exited Tuesday’s spring training game against the Twins after throwing one pitch with a hamstring injury.
Effross grabbed at his leg before he walked off the mound with a team trainer, according to the New York Post.
After the game, a 5-4 loss to Minnesota, Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed to reporters at the game in Fort Myers that Effross suffered a hamstring injury. There will be testing for Effross to determine how serious of an injury this is for the right-hander, Boone said.
Depending on the severity of this injury, it could be a brutal blow for Effross as the right-hander has missed the majority of the last two seasons due to injuries.
A few months after the Yankees acquired Effross from the Cubs at the 2022 trade deadline, the right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery. He then had back surgery in December of 2023, delaying his return from the elbow procedure this past year.
All told, Effross has only pitched in 16 games with the Yankees since they traded for him on August 1, 2022. He threw 35 1/3 innings in the Yankees’ minor-league system this past year and 3 1/3 innings in the big leagues.
Before Tuesday’s loss, when asked about pitchers who have been standing out at camp so far, Boone mentioned Effross.
“Another handful of months removed from injury,” Boone said. “I feel like his stuff overall has been a little crisper.”
Effross was poised to battle for a bullpen spot this spring or at least provide some depth in case other big-league relievers get hurt. Since the sidearm righty has minor-league options remaining, he needs to have a strong spring, otherwise he’ll likely start the year in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Time will tell if this injury keeps him from having a chance to prove he’s worthy of an opportunity in pinstripes.
