Nathan Eovaldi Hurts Groin, Report Says

Last September, Yankees’ starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi‘s successful 2015 season ended early after an elbow injury sidelined him in the middle of the 2015 playoff chase. 

His second year with the team did not start off the way he’d like.

The right-hander skipped a bullpen session on Thursday due to a groin issue, according to a report from the New York Post’s George King.

“Thanks to a tender groin muscle, Nathan Eovaldi was held off a mound late last week but threw on flat ground Sunday and is scheduled for a bullpen session Tuesday.”

Because of the injury, Eovaldi did not throw off a mound last week and threw off flat ground on Sunday. The Yankees will have Eovaldi throw a bullpen session on Tuesday. New York doesn’t expect him to miss any time, but is not the start they were looking for with all the questions in the rotation.

If healthy, the 26-year old will be a critical component of the starting rotation and is looking to build on a successful 2015. He posted a 14-3 record and a 4.20 ERA while tossing 154.1 innings but finished strong as he he posted a 3.43 ERA in his last 14 starts compared to a 5.12 ERA in his first 13 starts of the season.

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If you take a look at the games Eovaldi pitched in, the only one that stuck out as dismal was his performance against his former team, the Marlins, when he couldn’t even last two innings and gave up almost 10 runs. Other than that one bad outing, he kept New York in every game and has the great potential, again, if healthy.

His season ended rather abruptly after doctors discovered inflammation in his right elbow after a September 5th start against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was, however, considered available for the American League Division Series if the Yankees hadn’t lost to the Houston Astros in the Wild Card game.

Here in Spring Training, the elbow has held up.

“I didn’t have any problems getting the arm back in shape,” Eovaldi told the Post. “This off season, I felt good and ready to go. I don’t know if it’s because I continued my shoulder program and arm maintenance in the offseason as soon as the season ended. In the past, I’d usually just enjoy the two or three weeks off.”

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