New year, same stuff. The injury bug has returned with a vengeance to sink its teeth into the Yankees’ roster. One hoped the Yankees had addressed this when the cleared house in the strength and conditioning department over the winter, but COVID-19’s abbreviation of spring training complicated matters. The Bombers have already eclipsed last year’s record pace of players going down with injury, with ten players currently on the IL.
One of the areas hit hardest by this wave of injuries is the bullpen. The Yankees, in their latest run of playoff appearances, have always counted the bullpen as an area of strength which they could ride in high-leverage spots.