Gregorius suffered a right elbow injury during the ALDS against the Red Sox and an MRI on Thursday revealed that he will require Tommy John surgery. Manager Aaron Boone said he anticipates Gregorius returning "at some point during the season," though he added it's "realistic" that the shortstop will be available for the "bulk" of the 2019 campaign, Marc Carig of The Athletic reports.
General manager Brian Cashman did not want to specify a timetable, but suggested some time in the summer.
“Best to stay general,” Cashman said. “I don’t want to (specifically) say June, July, August.”
The manager said the Yankees would know more after the procedure, and that might influence how they approach replacing Gregorius at shortstop.
Boone said he thinks Gregorius hurt his right elbow early in the American League Division Series in a game at Fenway Park, when he retrieved a ball off the wall in left field and threw it in.
He said Gregorius felt something then but played through the final games of the series, which the Red Sox won, three games to one.
Booone said Gleyber Torres could be the Yankees' shortstop to begin the season.
While the Yankees could open the year with Gleyber Torres at short, particularly if Gregorius is expected to return quickly, the injury is sure to fuel speculation about Manny Machado or another free-agent shortstop landing in the Bronx.
Gregorius went 3 for 14 at the plate in the Red Sox series, with two of those hits coming in the decisive Game 4.
The 28-year-old started 130 games at shortstop during the regular season, hitting .268/.335/.494 with 27 home runs and 86 RBIs.
When the Yankees acquired Gregorius from Arizona, Cashman said there was already a pre-existing tear that was not an issue. Gregorius is eligible for free agency after the 2019 season.
Last year, Gleyber Torres underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left (non-throwing) arm in June and was ready for 2018 spring training.
