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Yankees prospect Justus Sheffield placed on DL with oblique strain

By Mike Calendrillo

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 13: A New York Yankees glove and hat sit in the dugout before the start of the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 13, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 13: A New York Yankees glove and hat sit in the dugout before the start of the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 13, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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It would appear the epidemic of injuries crippling the Yankees isn’t solely reserved for the major league level as Double-A pitcher Justus Sheffield has suffered a strained oblique that will keep him out indefinitely.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had just about enough of players throughout the Yankees organization being placed on the disabled list this season.

The most recent addition to the group no one wants to be associated with is left-handed pitching prospect, Justus Sheffield. Acquired from the Indians as part of the Andrew Miller deal last season, Sheffield has gone 7-5 with a 3.09 ERA and 7.9 K/9 in 90.1 innings pitched at Trenton this season.

Over his past 10 starts, the 21-year-old has begun to round into form going 6-3 with a 2.70 ERA. Recently named to the Eastern League All-Star team, Sheffield hurt his right oblique in the top of the fifth inning of Wednesday night’s contest against Reading.

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Thunder manager Bobby Mitchell told The Trentonian that Sheffield tweaked the oblique after throwing a slider earlier in the start but tried to pitch through it.

"“Being the gamer that he is, he tried to stay in the game, telling me it was just an upset stomach. He says he has ‘bubble guts’. I didn’t even know what that was. I asked him what it was.“He was just trying to stay in the game. He had and MRI, and it came back that it was a pretty good strain. He is out of the All-Star Game. It is kind of a wait and see thing, how it progresses. You have to be sure when he comes back. You can’t hurt it again, so it could be awhile."

For the time being, Sheffield has been placed on the 7-day DL, though it’s unlikely he is rushed back into action, as oblique strains are a fickle beast — and can turn into significant tears if not given adequate time to heal. Expect Sheff’s return sometime in August.

To further complicate Sheffield’s run of recent bad luck, he was involved in a minor car accident returning from the doctor’s office just one day later. Luckily, all those involved left unscathed, although the same couldn’t be said for Sheffield’s vehicle, which was inoperable due to a damaged wheel.

As part of Baseball America’s 2017 Midseason Top 100 Prospects report, the Yankees’ No. 6 overall prospect is ranked No. 72 in all of baseball, moving up from his preseason No. 91 designation.

Next: Buster Olney says Yanks eyeing Jays' Stroman

Other Yankee farmhands on the list include:

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