Carlos Beltran Heads To Tampa To Begin Rehab Assignment

Apr 25, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Carlos Beltran (36) hits a double against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

New York Yankees’ outfielder Carlos Beltran, who has been on the disabled list since May 13th while dealing with a bone spur in his right elbow, will be headed to Tampa at some point Sunday in preparation to begin his rehabilitation assignment on Monday at the team’s spring training complex. Beltran, who was signed to a 3-year free agent contract this past off-season, has rarely shown the big bat that the Yankees had hoped to be getting.

Beltran’s goal is to rejoin the Yankees during their upcoming Midwest and West Coast road that will see them pay visits to the Royals, the A’s and the Mariners. The first-year Yankees’ outfielder has been taking batting practice sessions to test the pain in the elbow, and has reported no issues. He recently spoke with Wallace Mathews of ESPNNY.com:

"I feel really good, I have no discomfort. I will be heading to Tampa this afternoon to start rehab games tomorrow. I am a hundred percent, I have no pain and that was basically what we were trying to achieve with the treatment and cortisone shots.”"

Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi revealed to Mathews earlier in the day that Beltran’s bone spur has a crack in it, and it could potentially become dislodged down the road.

"Potentially it could be a problem, but right now it’s really not anything more than we already knew.”"

~Joe Girardi to Wallace Mathews of ESPNNY.com earlier today

Beltran had previously visited with Dr. James Andrews regarding the bone spur, and was told there is a 50-50 chance that the outfielder could need surgery. It depended on whether or not the rest and cortisone injections he has been receiving did their job. If Beltran were to need surgery, he would be out 8-12 weeks recovering. Beltran is currently hitting .234 with 5 home runs and 15 driven in.