Yankees' Comeback Sensation "In Play" For Imminent Return

He exploded onto the scene in New York with one of the great comeback stories in recent memory. Left on the scrap heap by both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers within the past year, 36-year-old Matt Carpenter picked himself up off the matt, donned the New York Yankee pinstripes, and never looked back. 

Until he suffered what appeared to be a season-ending fractured left foot on Aug. 8th. But Carpenter is back this week taking batting practice, and is apparently on track to make yet another spectacular comeback—either in the season's final week, or in the postseason.

Matt Carpenter is “doing really well” and “in play” to return for the final regular season series in Texas, per Aaron Boone.

Another option would be for him to use that series to get live at-bats in Somerset (at an alternate site the Yankees are setting up) in prep for the ALDS.

— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) September 30, 2022

Carpenter hasn't had any issues this week after doing some weight-bearing on that fractured foot. Yankees manager Aaron Boone says Carpenter is “doing really well” and “in play” to return for the final regular season series in Texas early next week. The Comeback Kid has told reporters himself that he hopes to play in that series.

The other option under consideration is having him just get some live at-bats over the next week at an alternate site, to get him ready for the playoffs. The Yankees have a bye through the Wild Card round, and won't begin the ALDS until October 11th.

Carpenter hit .169 for the Cardinals last season and .186 the season before. The Rangers signed him to a minor league deal in the offseason but released him from their Triple-A team in May. That's when the Yankees swooped in.

All he did with the Bronx Bombers was hit .305 with an 1.138 OPS in 47 games, with an insane 15 HR and 37 RBIs. 

The Yankees are hoping he has at least one more big comeback left in him this October.

Photo: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports