NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Donaldson was activated from the 10-day injured list and into the New York Yankees roster on Friday night for the first time since being suspended by Major League Baseball for a star remark of the Chicago White Sox Tim Anderson.
Donaldson was suspended one game for making multiple references to Jackie Robinson during a conversation with Anderson on May 21. Donaldson appealed the discipline.
Donaldson played the next day against Chicago but has not been fielded since due to COVID-19 and right shoulder inflammation. He was scheduled to play third base and clean up bats against the Detroit Tigers upon his return.
The 2015 AL MVP is hitting .239 with five home runs, 15 RBIs and a .764 OPS in 37 games in his first season with New York.
Donaldson was isolated from the team for several days after the Anderson incident because he had symptoms of COVID-19. He apologized to the Robinson family during this time. When he returned, he said he was hurt that his teammates didn’t support him.
He is likely to get a warm reception from fans, however, after booing Anderson in the May 22 series finale against the White Sox.
Boone said slugger Giancarlo Stanton could be activated out of the 10-day IL this weekend. Stanton was sidelined with a right calf injury and can return on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Yankees reliever Chad Green has had Tommy John surgery and will likely be sidelined until at least the summer of 2023.
New York said the right-handed ulnar collateral ligament was reconstructed Wednesday by Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister at Trinity Park Surgery Center in Arlington, Texas.
Green, 31, is eligible for free agency after this year’s World Series. He was 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 14 games when he was injured in the sixth inning at Baltimore on May 19.
Green said after the game that he felt discomfort in his right forearm. The Yankees placed him on the 15-day disabled list two days later and moved him to the 60-day disabled list on May 27.
Green is 33-22 with a 3.17 ERA in seven major league seasons and has a salary of $4 million this year. He was 10-7 with a 3.12 ERA in 67 appearances last year, striking out 99 in 83 2/3 innings.
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