BALTIMORE – The immediate hopes of José Caballero continuing to be the Yankees’ starting shortstop will be stuffed into an MRI tube on Tuesday morning.
For now, a right middle finger injury was enough to keep Caballero out of the Yankees’ lineup for Monday’s series opener against the Orioles at Camden Yards, after he hurt it diving back into first base in the ninth inning of Sunday’s loss to the Brewers.
After Monday’s game, Caballero will travel back to New York to see a hand specialist and team physician, Dr. Christopher Ahmad, and undergo an MRI exam to figure out what he is dealing with.
“I don’t think it’s a fracture,” Caballero said. “Not worried [about going on the injured list]. I’m just not happy that I have to be out of the lineup today.”
But Aaron Boone, who generally downplays any worries about potential injuries, sounded more concerned than Caballero
“There’s definitely some concern because Cabby, he’s as tough as they come,” Boone said. “Just had a little hard time when he went to throw today. The good thing is hitting was good. So we’ll see. He’s going to get some tests [Tuesday] morning. See what we have over the next day or two.”
Max Schuemann started at shortstop Monday night and Boone indicated he and Ryan McMahon could fill the void if Caballero is just a day-to-day situation.
If Caballero had to go on the injured list, the recently demoted Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera would be candidates for a call-up from Triple-A.
But first, the MRI.
“He’s been great,” Boone said. “He’s been such a good performer for us here to start the year, on both sides of the ball. He’s been a key part of our team to this point, but again, hopefully it’s just a day-to-day situation. We’ll have a better idea of that [Tuesday].”