The Yankees lasted just over a month in 2020 before they announced a player injury. Earlier this afternoon, the team revealed that James Paxton “underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy with removal of a peridiscal cyst.” The club believes he can return to big-league action in three to four months, meaning he will open the season on the injured list.
According to multiple reports, Paxton first experienced discomfort at the end of the 2019 season. Doctors recommended a conservative treatment pan, including a series of injections in an attempt to avoid surgery.