With Carlos Beltran still in the early stages of a throwing program, the Yankees aren’t exactly deep in the outfield, which is why Kelly Johnson started in right for the first time of his career on Tuesday.
Before the Yankees’ 2-1, 14-inning win over the Rangers, manager Joe Girardi said that might happen more regularly, but Johnson left the game in the top of the 11th with an injury suffered running out a grounder.
“He felt something in his groin and thought it might be a cramp,” Girardi said, adding Johnson went for an MRI exam.
The Yankees are playing with only three legitimate outfielders: Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki.
Johnson made a running catch to rob J.P. Arencibia of a leadoff extra-base hit in the 10th and then grounded out in the bottom of the inning.
The manager doesn’t have much choice right now, especially with Chase Headley expected to play third base every day, leaving Johnson to back up first base once Mark Teixeira comes back. When that might happen is still up in the air.
“I can’t run these guys out there every day,” said Girardi, who put Brian McCann at first base on Tuesday.
Beltran played catch on Monday, and is expected to throw two days in a row this week followed by another day off as he deals with a bone spur near his right elbow.
“We’re trying to get him out there,” Girardi said of Beltran, who has been limited to DH duty.
As for Teixeira, both he and Girardi reiterated the platelet-rich plasma injection he received Monday would take several days to take effect.
General manager Brian Cashman remained optimistic the oft-injured first baseman would avoid the disabled list.
“The concern is low-level,” Cashman said. “The only concern is we don’t have him available for the short-term. That’s not optimal. He gives us a different lineup… You hope the short-term rest benefits him and he comes back and gets back to doing what we’re accustomed to seeing.”
Cashman said there was no timetable yet for Masahiro Tanaka to pick up a ball for the first time since also having a PRP shot in his right elbow. … Girardi said he would talk to Cashman about possibly adding a pitcher for Wednesday’s game.
With Yangervis Solarte heading to the Padres in the Headley trade, Girardi said Brendan Ryan and Zelous Wheeler would be the primary backups to Brian Roberts at second base.
Both Girardi and Cashman praised what Solarte was able to do this season after making the team out of spring training.
“He really saved our bacon early this year when we had lot of other issues going on,” Cashman said. “Some people can find themselves later in their career. That’s yet to be determined in Yangervis Solarte’s case. He had a tremendous March and April.”