The New York Yankees are going to begin the 2022 regular season without a key arm in their bullpen as veteran left-hander Zack Britton recovers from Tommy John surgery.
He suffered the injury to his elbow during the 2021 season and underwent the surgery.
Marly Rivera of ESPN provided an update on Britton and his rehab process.
The left-hander will not be traveling back to New York with the club for their Opening Day game against the Boston Red Sox.
Instead, he will remain in Tampa where he will continue rehabbing in hopes that he can make a return towards the end of the 2022 season.
Zack Britton will not travel up north with the team; will remain in the Tampa area rehabbing for a few months. Told me the next few months will be critical in his rehab in his hope to return at some point at the end of the season.
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) April 4, 2022
Britton On The Mend
The Yankees bullpen is a question mark entering the 2022 regular season, and the injury to Britton leaves them without a key piece.
Without him, the Yankees don’t have that lockdown presence in the later innings leading up to Aroldis Chapman.
But recovery from Tommy John surgery is a tedious process.
While Britton is out, the Yankees will likely rely on guys such as Nestor Cortes, Chad Green, Jonathan Loaisiga, Michael King, and Wandy Peralta to help bridge the gap until Britton makes his return.
It’s also possible that the Yankees will make a move to address the hole left by the injury.
The bullpen has some solid pieces in it, but Britton being out creates a ton of problems.
He told Rivera that the next few months would be critical in his rehab as he tries to make it back by the end of the season.
We’ll see if Britton can stay on track and get back to full strength in time for the stretch run in September.
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