Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius has successful Tommy John surgery

Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius underwent surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan on Wednesday.

Many Yankees fans, like myself, were wondering when exactly it was that Didi Gregorius tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right throwing elbow.

Reportedly, it came in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the ALDS versus the Red Sox, following Ian Kinsler’s RBI double off the Green Moster. Gregorius, the cut-off man, threw home, thus and changing his fate for the 2019 season.

Anyone that watched the remainder of the series could see that something was seriously wrong with Gregorius, as he bounced a pair of routine throws to Luke Voit at first base during the deciding Game 4 loss.

Didi, who is coming off career-highs in runs scored (89), homers (27), walks (48), OBP (.335), SLG (.494) and stolen bases (10) — is entering his final season of arbitration.

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According to MLB Trade Rumors, Gregorius is set to make $12.4 million, up significantly from the $8.25 million he made in 2018.

General manager Brian Cashman told Michael Kay on ESPN New York that the surgery “went as expected” and that Gregorius is likely out of action anywhere from June to August. How that affects Sir Didi’s free agent status in 2020 remains to be seen, considering the Yankees now have a sizable hole to fill in their infield for the better part of next season.

Cashman went on to say that the Yankee organizational meetings are scheduled for Oct. 23 and that all internal and external replacements will be vetted in advance of the December Winter Meetings.

As of now, in-house options to replace but not replicate Gregorius’ abilities are to slide Gleyber Torres over to his natural position of shortstop, and then have Tyler Wade, Ronald Torreyes and Thairo Estrada fight it out in spring training for second base.

Of course, there are numerous free agent and/or trade possibilities, highlighted by the one and only Manny Machado. Other names to keep an eye on include fellow Dodger Brian Dozier, former Mets Daniel Murphy and Asdrubal Cabrera, Comeback Player of the Year candidate Jed Lowrie and Giants second baseman Joe Panik (who could be had in a Sonny Gray deal).

Naturally, losing Didi for a good chunk of the 2019 season isn’t how the Yankees wanted to begin their offseason, but at least the front office brass has ample time to figure out a game plan until he returns.