The more things change...
The Yankees just seem to have bad luck with wrists these days. Mark Teixeira missed essentially all of last year with a torn tendon sheath and is being held out of the first week of spring training games as a precautionary measures. Now prospect Tyler Austin's wrist is acting up, just as it did in 2013.
Tyler Austin's right wrist is bothering him again. Held out of batting practice today. #yankees
— Lohud Yankees Blog (@LoHudYankees) February 22, 2014Tyler Austin hopes he's shut down only a few days. Wrist got sore a couple of days ago. Thought it would go away. Said something today.
— Lohud Yankees Blog (@LoHudYankees) February 22, 2014The outfielder spent time on the Double-A Trenton disabled list in 2013 with a sore wrist from a bone bruise and left the Arizona Fall League early since his wrist was "not 100%." As a result, the Yankees' 2012 Minor League Player of the Year declined to a .257/.344/.373 triple slash with a 103 wRC+ in 83 games with the Thunder. The injury made an obvious impact on his slugging percentage since power often comes from quick wrists. Joe Girardi said that Austin would be re-evaluated in a few days. If this discomfort is a sign of things to come for Austin, that does not bode well for Austin's 2014 season. Hopefully it's just a minor issue.
Austin's teammate in Trenton, lefty starter Nik Turley also did not work out today since he was suffering from tightness in his arm. On the bright side, Jennings reported that Girardi did not appear to be too concerned by Turley's ailment, so it seems to just be a problem for today. Reliever Jim Miller and outfielder Alfonso Soriano did not participate in workouts today either due to a tight calf and the flu, respectively. Austin's injury was the most worrisome out of the bunch. Given the 22-year-old's recent past and the havoc his wrist wreaked on his 2013 season, it's difficult to dismiss the injury too casually. Le sigh.