Two more rehab assignments got underway for Yankees pitchers on Sunday with opposite results: Albert Abreu threw allowed one hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning for Double-A Somerset, while Scott Effross allowed two runs on three hits in a rough inning for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Abreu, who has been out of action since August 21 with right elbow inflammation, pitched the sixth and actually got the win for the Patriots. He threw 12 of 17 pitches for strikes, his inning going strikeout, single, fly out, strikeout.
Effross, meanwhile, took the loss for the RailRiders, taking the sixth and alternating hits and out. He surrendered a leadoff homer to Bobby Dalbec, a one-out double to Ronaldo Hernandez, and then a two-out RBI double to Ryan Fitzgerald before escaping the inning. He did throw 14 of 18 pitches for strikes, although three were hit very hard.
The two rehabs starting today give the Yankees 30 days to activate both, and while Effross is expected to return to the MLB bullpen as soon as he is deemed ready, Abreu’s future is less certain; he does not have any minor-league options, but may not have a solid place in a fully healthy Yankees bullpen that could also see Zack Britton return at some point.
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Prior to going on the IL, Abreu was 2-2 with a 3.32 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 38 innings pitched in 32 appearances this season. Effross, who was acquired at the trade deadline, had a 3.24 ERA in 8 1/3 innings over eight outings before going on the IL on August 22 with a right shoulder strain.
Somerset and Scranton are the only two Yankees affiliates still playing, with the Patriots set to begin the Eastern League playoffs next week – they will face Portland in a Best-of-3 Division Series and then possibly play in the EL Championship Series – while Scranton ends their season on Sept.
30.
The Yankees currently have Abreu, Miguel Castro, and Stephen Ridings rehabbing at Double-A, while Effross and Zack Britton are at Triple-A, giving them five injured relievers currently on the comeback trail.
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