New York Yankees Place First MLB Player on COVID-19 IL in 2024 – Newsweek

The New York Yankees have placed a player on the COVID-19 injured list.

On Monday, the Yankees announced a series of roster moves that included placing right-handed pitcher Ian Hamilton on the 7-day COVID-19 injured list, retroactive to May 19. They also selected left-handed pitcher Clayton Andrews to the active roster and designated right-handed pitcher Colby White for assignment.

This is the first time the Yankees have used the COVID-19 IL since 2022. The COVID-19 IL was implemented in 2020, when the Coronavirus was rampant and MLB needed a way for players to be placed on an injured list that followed the timeline of the CDC guidelines. Players were forced to be out for a minimum of seven days, and that still stands today.

In Aug. 2023, the Boston Red Sox placed left-handed pitcher Brennan Bernardino on the COVID-19 IL. Hamilton is the first player placed on the COVID-19 IL by any MLB team since then.

Hamilton, 28, has been one of the Yankees' better relievers this season, sporting a 3.18 ERA in 22.2 innings pitched. He's picking up where he left off in 2023, when he had a 2.64 ERA in 58 innings pitched.

Hamilton has been struggling as of late, though, as he has a 5.06 ERA over the last two weeks of play. He will now be out for a minimum of seven days, meaning his first potential return date is May 26.

Hamilton was drafted in the 11th round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox. He bounced around a handful of teams before signing as a free agent with the Yankees in Jan. 2023.

In his place, the left-handed Andrews will get an opportunity. Andrews has a career 27.00 ERA in four appearances at the MLB level with the Milwaukee Brewers. He has a 6.60 ERA in 12 appearances at Triple-A this season.

Hamilton has been one of the many reasons the Yankees enter Monday with the tied-for-best bullpen ERA in baseball at 2.49. The Yankees have enjoyed incredible success from a handful of relievers, including the best closer in baseball up to this point.

Right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes, the team's closer, has yet to allow an earned run in 20 innings, and has 13 saves. Alongside him have been some standout performances such as right-handed pitcher Nick Burdi (1.04 ERA in 8.2 innings), right-handed pitcher Luke Weaver (2.25 ERA in 28 innings), and left-handed pitcher Victor Gonzlez (2.63 ERA in 13.2 innings).

The Yankees enter Monday's series opener against the Seattle Mariners with the best record in the American League at 33-15. They'll look to continue this success without Hamilton for at least the next week.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Visit link:

New York Yankees Place First MLB Player on COVID-19 IL in 2024 - Newsweek