New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt caused a bit of a scare on Monday afternoon due to an injury. Manager Aaron Boone decided to remove Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star, early during the team’s 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Goldschmidt revealed that he has been dealing with a sore back but assured reporters that he had “zero” worries about missing Opening Day.
He mentioned that it was Boone’s decision to pull him from the game and clarified that he felt fine to continue. “I could have played a few more innings,” Goldschmidt said. “I probably could have played the entire game.” He explained that in Spring Training, it’s important to be cautious, acknowledging, “This was probably a time when there’s no need to push through and make it worse.”
Boone backed up his decision, noting, “He was like, ‘I could keep going,’ but I was like, ‘No, let’s get out of there.’ It’s nothing I think is a big deal.” Given the Yankees’ recent string of injuries, Boone’s decision to err on the side of caution seems wise. Goldschmidt, the 2022 NL MVP, is a key asset for the team, and it’s crucial that he doesn’t aggravate the injury and end up on the injured list.
Goldschmidt, who signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the Yankees in December, adds another solid right-handed bat to the lineup. If he stays healthy, he will be part of a powerful Opening Day lineup featuring three former MVPs: Goldschmidt, three-time MVP Aaron Judge, and 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger.
Giancarlo Stanton, the 2017 NL MVP, would have also been in the mix if not for tennis elbow in both arms. Stanton, along with infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf), is out indefinitely, though Stanton hopes to return by late May or early June. Goldschmidt has been performing well this spring, with a .313 average, three home runs, and 10 RBIs. If healthy, he is expected to bat cleanup when the Yankees face the Milwaukee Brewers next Thursday.
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