Yankees Edwin Encarnacion will miss minimum 3-5 weeks

After being hit on the wrist in Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader versus the Red Sox, Yankees slugger Edwin Encarnacion has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture and will likely be out of action until September.

It’s truly amazing that the Yankees are an American League-best 71-39, and sit eight games up on the second-place Rays.

I say “amazing” because Edwin Encarnacion became the club’s 25th player (31 stints in total) to go on the dreaded injured list this season. And that number could soon increase after Aaron Hicks left Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader with a sore right elbow.

Encarnacion, who had three hits in the doubleheader opener, finished out the contest, but will now likely be out of action until September’s stretch run — although the slugger hopes to return sooner rather than later, as he told Zach Braziller of the New York Post.

"“I hope no more than three weeks [I’ll be out]. We’ll see,” Encarnacion said. “They don’t tell me exactly. Maybe three [weeks], maybe four, maybe five.”More from Yankees NewsAaron Judge Time interview scared Yankees as much as it scared youWhy weren’t Yankees in on Kodai Senga now that we know the price?Baseball Reference proves Yankees’ Aaron Judge lives rent free in BostonYankees’ Clay Holmes trade just became even bigger disaster for PiratesMets stealing New York Post’s entire Yankees offseason plan is hilarious"

With Luke Voit already on the IL, weighing whether or not to undergo season-ending sports hernia surgery, and Didi Gregorius nursing a sore finger, the loss of Encarnacion for an extended period will need to be made up somehow.

In his last 20 games, Encarnacion was red-hit, hitting .333 (26-for-78) with five home runs.

With Giancarlo Stanton yet to resume baseball activities, Clint Frazier stuck in Triple-A purgatory, Greg Bird simply not an option, and no longer a post-July 31 trade deadline — reinforcements will need to come from within the organization.

Therefore, until Gregorius is given the all-clear to resume everyday activities, meaning DJ LeMahieu would shift to first base — career minor leaguer Mike Ford will look to pick up the slack at first base.

Although Ford did little in his first go-around with the Yankees this season, he did have an OBP of .400 thanks to nine walks in 40 plate appearances.

Perhaps the extra time he’s spent at Triple-A Scranton will enable him to succeed in his second stint in the Bronx, as the 26-year-old leads all Yankees minor leaguers with 23 home runs — 20 of which have been hit to right and right-center field.

With his 1.007 OPS, which leads the International League, a minuscule 15.7 percent strikeout rate and 13.7 walk rate, now is the time for Ford to prove he can hit at the major league level. If not, he may not get another shot in New York.