Yankees Miguel Andujar passes first test in rehab from injury

The Yankees can ill-afford to play the remainder of the 2019 season without the offensive production that Miguel Andujar provides.

With the breaking news that is catcher Gary Sanchez being placed on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain, the Yankees need some hopefulness when it comes to any one of their 12 injured players thus far this season.

And so, it was reported that third baseman Miguel Andujar played catch with infield coach Carlos Mendoza, under the watchful supervision of assistant trainer Tim Lentych.

Though not monumental in terms of estimating any sort of timetable for return, or avoiding season-ending surgery to repair the slight tear in his right labrum, Andujar told Brendan Kuty of NJ.com that he felt good, following the brief five-minute session that included 25 throws from 60 feet.

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Without much zip on the ball, it’s hard to tell if avoiding surgery is realistic — or what could happen in a game situation once Andujar lets it fly from across the diamond. For right now, though, Andujar reported no pain.

Considering that the runner-up to last season’s AL Rookie of the Year Award has never experienced such a significant injury, the young slugger seems to be taking it in stride.

“I definitely felt better than I thought I was going to feel,” the third baseman said… This is a new experience for me. I’ve never been here before. I’ve been pretty healthy throughout my baseball career. I didn’t know what to expect,” said Andujar.

Out of action since April 1, when he awkwardly dove back into third base following a pickoff attempt, Andujar is slated to throw again on Friday before potentially advancing to swings in the batting cage.

Andujar will likely be reevaluated sometime next week before a final determination is made on his status for the rest of this season. As he told Eric Boland of Newsday, it’s a one day at a time thing.

“You have to take it one day at a time,” Andujar said through his translator when asked if he thought he took a major step forward Wednesday. “You have to follow the program that we have in place, keep doing my treatment. That’s what you have to keep doing.”

Before his I.L. stint, Andujar had gone 3-for-13 with one RBI and two strikeouts in three games. As for his defense, 18 innings in the field resulted in four assists and one error.