New York Yankees injury news: Aroldis Chapman on track to return

Aroldis Chapman has started a minor league rehab assignment that will not only soon bring him back to the New York Yankees, but also likely into his former role as a ninth-inning reliever.

Here is the latest injury news and updates on New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters that the 34-year-old Chapman has begun his work with the Double-A Somerset (N.J.) Patriots and is on track to return to the Yankees by the end of the month. He is reportedly staying with Somerset through their weekend series, then could well make his way back to the Bronx and back to the Yankees, a team for which he hasn’t pitched since May 22, his last game before he was placed on the injured list with left Achilles tendinitis.

That game marked the fifth consecutive outing where Chapman had given up at least one run. Chapman did not surrender a run in his first 12 outings, then saw his ERA rise to 3.86 in a tough stretch before going on the injured list.

Chapman’s absence has allowed Clay Holmes to shift into the closer role for the Yankees and he has been solid, posting a 1.00 ERA in nine June appearances (spanning 9.0 innings) while locking down six saves in seven opportunities.

Holmes has also established a new Yankees record during his run on the mound this season, racking up 29 scoreless appearances to break the old team mark set by Mariano Rivera.

However, while Holmes has been solid, Boone did tell reporters that Chapman will likely return to ninth-inning duty when he returns, setting up what could be a very interesting back end of the bullpen with Holmes churning along as New York’s go-to man for the final three outs of the game.

Aroldis Chapman is on his way back to the Yankees, and exactly how Aaron Boone uses the veteran pitcher and Clay Holmes upon his return will be something very interesting to watch.