Why New York Yankees Star Wasn't Activated From IL

Some things don't always go according to plan.

Although the New York Yankees were expecting to activate center fielder Harrison Bader from the injured list on Friday, that didn't happen.

As manager Aaron Boone told reporters, Bader didn't feel ready to return, more defensively than offensively. Instead, the plan turned into him getting two more rehab games, one of which he played in on Friday night.

Harrison Bader didn’t feel ready to return, according to Aaron Boone … more defensively than offensively. Everyone involved agreed to give him two more minor league games. New plan is that he would return Tuesday in New York.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) June 16, 2023

Bader played eight innings in center field and went 1-for-4 for the Double-A Somerset Patriots on Friday night.

“The other day went fine. I think just in Harrison’s mind, and we agree wholeheartedly, [he wanted] to get another game or two in,” Boone said, via The New York Post. “Having that feeling, especially for a guy like him who relies on his legs so much, to be able to go make that diving play in the gap at full speed or score from second with the game on the line with a base hit to left.

“I just think, especially with a hamstring injury, having that confidence in your mind that you can do that [is important]. So he’s going to play again tonight, probably [Saturday] and then probably join us on the home stand. But we’ll get through today and we’ll see where we’re at.”

Boone said Bader, a 2021 Gold Glove Award winner, is more concerned about getting his timing down in center field than at the plate.

If all goes well in his final rehab game, Bader will rejoin the Yankees in New York on Tuesday for their series with the Seattle Mariners.

Although the Yankees are still missing superstar outfielder Aaron Judge, the return of Bader will be a significant boost for the lineup and defense as well.

Bader missed the first month of the season with an oblique strain before rejoining the Yankees in early-May. Unfortunately, he strained his hamstring in Seattle and was placed back on the IL on May 30.

Without Bader and Judge, the Yankees have been forced to turn to Willie Calhoun, Jake Bauers, Billy McKinney, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Oswaldo Cabrera in the outfield.