New York Yankees Brett Gardner Injury Update

New York Yankees star left fielder Brett Gardner will join the team in the middle of the week (Wednesday or Thursday), and he is going to play AAA rehab games today and tomorrow.

If things go well in both games, then Gardner will join the team on Wednesday and the elbow injury will be of no more concern.

The rehab stint could last three games for the swift left-handed LF, who has a surprisingly low 2.8 WAR projection from ZiPS. Gardner was worth 5.1 WAR last season after a 6.1 WAR breakout year in 2010, and he has a .424 OBP in just nine games this year. Brett Gardner has also stolen three bases, and his defense has been, as always, immaculate in the outfielder.

Gardner is looking at another season with at least 35 stolen bases, and we’ll see if he can keep up the great hitting when he comes back. In 34 plate appearances, Gardner is hitting .321 this season, though his 145 wRC+ and batting average are certainly helped by that .429 BABIP (expected .320 BABIP this season).

In other AL East injury news, Boston Red Sox slugger Kevin Youkilis has been cleared to begin a walking program for his back injury. Youk has been on the DL since the 29th of April with soreness in his lower back, and this small amount of progress is certainly encouraging for the struggling hitter who has been the subject of trade speculation.

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