Yankees spiraling with more injuries but promote inspiring story for Red Sox series

So much for ending 2023 on a high note, right New York Yankees fans? The lone bright spot in Jasson Dominguez went down this weekend with a torn UCL and will likely miss a few months of the 2024 season. On Tuesday, the hits kept on coming, this time taking a key reliever for the remainder of the year.

Jonathan Loaisiga was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation and that'll be curtains on his journey back from elbow surgery. The fact he's experiencing trouble with the injury he just missed four months for can't bode well for what's to come.

After returning and making an immediate impact, the right-hander faltered badly this past weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing five earned runs on eight hits in his 1.2 innings of work. Those were the first earned runs he surrendered since coming off the IL in early August. He was nearly perfect for 15 straight games.

It's not like the Yankees need him now, but they certainly don't need what's believed to be a core bullpen piece for 2024 dealing with a potential long-term elbow issue. And it's especially not good given Loaisiga's injury history.

He's constantly been on the shelf dating back to his pre-MLB days with the San Francisco Giants. Then the Yankees took a chance on him, but outside of an impressive 2021season, he's either been injured or ineffective.

Yankees lose Jonathan Loaisiga to elbow injury and promote Zach McAllister

There's at least a fun silver lining. Taking Loaisiga's roster spot is fellow pitcher Zach McAllister, who last appeared in MLB back in 2018 with the Detroit Tigers. McAllister was actually drafted by the Yankees in 2006 (third round) and later traded to the Guardians, where he spent most his career. He's been dominant at Triple-A Scranton, logging a 1.62 ERA and 20 strikeouts over his 16.2 innings of work.

His career was derailed by injuries but he proved to be both a solid starter and reliever in Cleveland. For his career, he owns a 4.56 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 68 starts and a 3.38 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 212 relief appearances.

Here comes Part II for the 35-year-old, who has an opportunity to make a favorable impression with the Yankees gearing up for a four-game series at Fenway Park.