The New York Yankees received some good news on the injury front on Tuesday.
The team announced that reserve catcher Ben Rortvedt, who has been out all year with several ailments, will start a rehab assignment.
“Today, C Ben Rortvedt commences a rehab assignment with High-A Hudson Valley. Additionally, the Yankees transferred the rehab assignment of RHP Jonathan Loáisiga from Single-A Tampa to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre,” they tweeted.
Today, C Ben Rortvedt commences a rehab assignment with High-A Hudson Valley.
Additionally, the Yankees transferred the rehab assignment of RHP Jonathan Loáisiga from Single-A Tampa to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) July 12, 2022
However, perhaps the most noteworthy piece of news in the tweet is the fact that relief pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga is now ready to move his rehab from Single-A to Triple-A.
That can only mean one thing: he is nearing a return.
The Yankees have missed one of their best relievers since late May, when he went down with right shoulder inflammation.
The Yankees Need Loaisiga’s Best Version
Of course, he hadn’t been pitching like one of the Yankees’ best relievers when he got hurt.
Chances are he was pitching hurt at one point, because his numbers were abysmal.
In 18 games, he had a 7.02 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP.
Considering how good he was last year, those numbers are extremely disappointing.
In 2021, he finished with a stellar 2.17 ERA in 70.2 innings.
The hope is that, now he is fully healthy, he can go back to the pitcher he was last year, one with a soul-stealing sinker and impeccable command.
As for Rortvedt, he is expected to enter a crowded catching rotation in which All-Star Jose Trevino is getting the majority of the playing time.
It’s entirely possible that his rehab assignment takes a bit longer than expected, since he has been out for quite a while.
Still, the Yankees see potential in him and are expected to include him in their plans as long as he proves he is fully healthy.
NEXT: MLB Insider Reveals Latest Yankees Trade Target