TORONTO — For the second time this season, Fernando Cruz is going on the injured list, and this stint is going to be much longer.
The Yankees reliever only missed the minimum 15 days for shoulder inflammation last month, but he was diagnosed on Monday with a high-grade oblique strain that will likely sideline him for weeks, if not months.
“Obviously that’ll be some time,” manager Aaron Boone said after a 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
Boone indicated that Cruz suffered the injury while going through his pregame routine on Sunday with a medicine ball when he felt something in his oblique.
“It was pretty painful for him [Sunday],” Boone said. “Hurt it warming up in the weight room, his start-of-the-day warming up and stretching.”
Fernando Cruz of the New York Yankees reacts on the mound in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Boston, MA.Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Cruz’s absence will take a high-leverage weapon and strikeout artist away from Boone’s late-game bullpen for the foreseeable future.
Trent Grisham left Monday’s game in the fifth inning with left hamstring tightness after getting his cleat caught on the turf after pulling up on a sinking liner in the bottom of the fourth. The center fielder said it was too early to know whether the injury would cost him time.
“Foot got caught up underneath me, felt it in a weird spot,” he said. “I’ve dealt with hammies before in the past and it just didn’t feel like any other one. Trying to stay optimistic.”
Grisham said he was not expecting to undergo any tests on Tuesday morning, but that could change depending on how he feels when he wakes up.
“He’s been a great player for us,” Boone said. “Hoping it’s not something that’s too long. Whether it’s a day-to-day scenario, whether it’s an IL, I’m not sure yet. But obviously he’s been an outstanding, valuable two-way player for us all year.”
George Lombard Jr. will represent the Yankees at the Futures Game that kicks off All-Star Game festivities on July 12 at Truist Park.
The 20-year-old shortstop, who has also played some second and third base, is already one of the youngest players at Double-A after earning a promotion there last month.
He began the year batting .329 with a .983 OPS and 11 steals in 24 games at High-A Hudson Valley before being bumped up to Somerset, where he is batting .209 with a .659 OPS and 14 steals in 48 games.
“Super excited about George,” Boone said. “I think he’s going to be a really good player in this league. Two-way player, outstanding defender, runs well, the bat keeps coming. He keeps getting better and better. You really notice the physicality of him. … Excited about his development. Obviously got off to a good start, earned his way to Double-A and now gets a taste of the Futures Game, which I think will be great for his development as well.”
Lombard, the Yankees’ first-round pick in 2023, is ranked as the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect by most publications while Baseball America has him ranked No. 20 in all of baseball.
The Yankees called up Geoff Hartlieb from Triple-A to take Cruz’s spot in the bullpen.
The right-hander, who impressed the Yankees in spring training, had a 3.34 ERA in 24 games at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and can pitch multiple innings.
Luis Gil will throw a live batting practice session on Tuesday, then either throw one more on Sunday or begin a rehab assignment.
