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A day later, with the tears gone and adopting what he described as a feeling of peacefulness, Fernando Cruz said he is looking at all options.
On Wednesday, the valuable Yankees reliever was diagnosed with a partial tear in his UCL, which typically calls for Tommy John surgery that sidelines pitchers for at least a year.
But no decision has been made, said Cruz, who said he will receive a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister and expects to know more about his elbow and about his plan in two or three days. Some pitchers attempt to rest and rehab the ligament without going under the knife.
“It’s not in our hands right now,” said the 36-year-old Cruz, who likely would not pitch again until he is 38 if he undergoes the procedure — which likely complicates the decision. “I know the best is yet to come.”
Cruz said he had been dealing with the elbow issue for about three weeks, which became obvious on the mound: A typically dominant righty had allowed nine earned runs in his past 13 ²/₃ innings.
He then acknowledged the issue to the Yankees because, “I was affecting the New York Yankees — I wasn’t [just] affecting Fernando Cruz,” he said.
He went for tests Wednesday, received the news that was dreaded and said he cried, which is understandable given the predicament for a pitcher who pitches with as much emotion as any in the game.
And then the religious Cruz accepted the injury, which he said must have a purpose.
“I’m ready for it,” Cruz said before the Yankees’ 5-1 loss to the Astros at the Stadium. “I think it happened to the right guy.”
The Yankees already had a thin bullpen and now have lost their fireman, who, when right, would routinely enter mid-game jams and throw a few splitters to escape, then would shout his way back to the dugout.
But on Thursday, Aaron Boone referenced the person before the pitcher.
“He’s been such a great person for our team and for our room and how he goes about things,” the manager said before losing 5-1 to the Astros in The Bronx. “So I hate this for him. But I also know how just clear-minded he is, really strong faith. And we’ll sit down in the end, make the best decision for him.”
Veteran righty Justin Topa made his Yankees debut and generally pitched well, allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk in two innings.
Clarke Schmidt, who has been building up from 2025 Tommy John surgery, is expected to begin a rehab assignment Saturday. If he completes the comeback, Schmidt would return as a reliever.
The announced starters for the series with the Red Sox are Cam Schlittler (Friday), Carlos Rodón (in one end of Saturday’s doubleheader) and Will Warren (Sunday).
Max Fried could return for Saturday’s other game, though Boone wanted to make sure the lefty got through his side session Thursday.”
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