Jonathan Loaisiga cleared to break quarantine, return to New York

Jonathan Loaisiga, the first of the Yankees to test positive for COVID-19 in this most recent outbreak, has been cleared to break his quarantine and fly back to New York. The right-handed reliever is expected to undergo testing for the effects of the virus on his heart,and then begin ramping up.

“He’s — either today or tomorrow — scheduled to fly to New York. And then he’ll go through the cardiac workup. And then hopefully, we’ll see him on Tuesday  beginning his throwing program and back with us,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Sunday night’s series-finale against the Red Sox at the Stadium.”So he would be first in line.

“Everyone else, by and large, are doing pretty well, symptom wise,” Boone added of the other five players on the COVID-19 injured list.

Loaisiga has surpassed the 10-day period where he had to quarantine as he first tested positive on July 10, Nestor Cortes and Wandy Peralta tested positive on Monday. Aaron Judge, Gio Urshela and Kyle Higashioka were placed on the COVID-19 IL on Friday. Boone said they are all expected to miss at least 10 days from their first positive tests

Loaisiga would be a big return for the Yankees’ bullpen if he could be ramped up by next weekend’s series in Boston. Loaisiga had his second save of the season the night before he tested positive and was figuring into how Boone would finish games. In 47 appearances this season, Loaisiga has struck out 46 and allowed 11 earned runs (2.11 ERA). He ranked among the best in expected ERA, chase rate, barrel percentage and fastball velocity.

FALLOUT

The Yankees wild sixth inning Saturday night was marred by a fan throwing a baseball on the field and hitting Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo in the neck. The fan was escorted out of the Stadium by police, but was not arrested, and has been banned from the Stadium s for life, the team said.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone apologized to his Red Sox counterpart Alex Cora and decried the incident after the Yankees’ 3-1 rain-shortened win. Sunday the Yankees organization added it’s voice.

“While the Yankees appreciate the spirit and passion of our fans in our various rivalries — especially with the Red Sox — reckless and dangerous behavior that puts the safety of players, field staff or fellow fans in jeopardy will not be tolerated, and there is absolutely no place for it at Yankee Stadium. The safety of everyone at Yankee Stadium, including guests in the stands and players on the field, will always be the top priority for the Yankees organization every time we open our doors.”

SEVERINO STEPS UP

Yankees right-hander Luis Severino threw two simulated innings against live hitters Sunday afternoon, throwing 30 pitches to Tyler Wade and Hoy Park. Boone estimated he is three to five weeks away from being back.

“I thought he threw the ball really well, looks strong, healthy, which I think syncs up with everything  the first go around before he hurt his leg,” Boone said of the groin strain that stalled Severino’s rehab from March 2020 Tommy John surgery. “I think there’s a confidence, to what he’s doing. I think he’s in really good physical shape, which shows, and I thought he was pretty crisp today really with all his pitches. So another good step for him.”

Severino, who the Yankees had hoped to have back in the rotation this month until he suffered the groin injury in a minor league game last month, will have another outing against Yankees hitters before he returns to minor league rehab games.

“He’ll probably do another one of these in five or six days. And then see if we need to do another or at that point or hopefully start a rehab.”

O’DAY LIKELY DONE

Darren O’Day, who went on the IL with a strained hamstring July 6, is done for the season, Boone said.

“I want to make sure we’re on the same page  with Darren as far as everything and knowing the timeline and schedule. I would say it is likely that his season is over,” Boone said. But we’ll have some more information on that when it’s ready to give out.”

The 38-year old made 12 appearances for the Yankees this season because of a rotator cuff strain and now the leg injury. The 14-year major league veteran was signed to a one-year, $2.45 million deal with a team option for 2022 last winter as the Bombers reworked their bullpen by dumping Adam Ottavino’s $9 million salary.

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