Breaking News: NY Yankees Key Reliever To Be Out For "Months"

The New York Yankees are off to a great start to the season at 6-1 even without Gerrit Cole, but have now suffered another crucial pitching blow, as key reliever Jonathan Loiasiga will be lost to the team for "months". 

Jonathan Loaisiga out for months in Yankees injury blow https://t.co/77t35rmmGU pic.twitter.com/YaGHP3HJKy

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) April 5, 2024

It's a right flexor strain, and the Bombers have placed Loiasiga on the 60-day injured list. He's expected to be out until June. 

It's another blow for the Yankees bullpen who are also without Tommy Kahnle. His return from a shoulder injury is now delayed after he was unable to bounce back like he had hoped after throwing live BP earlier this week.

As for Loiasiga, always one of the top arms in the Yankees bullpen when healthy, he had allowed no runs and seven hits over four innings of work thus far this season, with three strikeouts.

But "when healthy" are the keywords here. Loiasiga has been beset by a number of arm injuries over the years limiting him to 50 innings or less in all but one season of his seven years with the Yankees. 

Overall, in 219 innings, he's compiled a career 3.44 ERA. Loiasiga will be a free agent at the end of this season.

To replace him on the roster, Dennis Santana was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in advance of Friday’s home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports