From WFAN’s Sweeny Murti comes word that Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury has been diagnosed with a lower abdominal strain and will be held out of Grapefruit League action for at least the next two days.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi described the strain as “mild, mild, mild,” so this isn’t something that should affect Ellsbury’s readiness for the beginning of the regular season. The Yankees’ opener is Monday, April 6 against the Blue Jays -- a little under three weeks away.
Ellsbury, 31, batted .271/.328/.419 with 16 home runs and 39 stolen bases in 149 games last season for New York. It was the first year of a seven-year, $153 million contract.