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New York Yankees: Gio Urshela sidelined with COVID vaccine side effects

By David Hill |
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 07: Gio Urshela #29 of the New York Yankees lies on the ground after he is tagged out sliding into home during the eleventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on April 07, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Orioles won 4-3. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 07: Gio Urshela #29 of the New York Yankees lies on the ground after he is tagged out sliding into home during the eleventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on April 07, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Orioles won 4-3. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The New York Yankees have done their part to get their players vaccinated, having numerous people in their traveling party, including players, vaccinated for COVID-19 before and after their game on Thursday. For the most part, those vaccines have not been an issue, with those players vaccinated ready to go.

However, that was not the case for Yankees’ third baseman Gio Urshela. He has been placed on the COVID list due to side effects from the vaccine, with Mike Ford being called up from the alternate site.

Gio Urshela leaves hole in New York Yankees lineup

Losing Urshela leaves a large hole in the Yankees’ lineup. DJ LeMahieu is nominally the backup at the hot corner, but he is also the starting second baseman. This would leave either Tyler Wade or the recently acquired Rougned Odor to play either second or third, depending on where the Yankees choose to play LeMahieu.

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On Friday, the option was to play LeMahieu at third with Wade covering second. This is the first time Wade has actually picked up a bat during a game this season; he has appeared in five games either as a defensive replacement or as a pinch runner. As Wade has yet to receive more than 108 plate appearances in any of the previous four seasons he has spent in New York, the Yankees are Hoping that Urshela is back sooner rather than later.

Chances are, he will be back in the lineup in relatively short order. The side effects typically last a few days, and as long as Urshela gets plenty of rest, he should be fine. His placement on the COVID list does not have a minimum stay, so if he feels fine on Saturday or Sunday, he could be back in the lineup shortly thereafter.

The Yankees certainly are hoping that is the case. He has been a revelation since being acquired by New York, posting a 134 OPS+ with 27 homers and 45 doubles in his 650 plate appearances between 2019 and 2020. Add in his generally solid glove, and Urshela has been a key part of the lineup.

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The New York Yankees have placed Gio Urshela on the COVID list due to side effects from being vaccinated. They are certainly hoping he is back soon.

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