NEW YORK – Under the Yankees’ original plan, Jonathan Loáisiga would have spent this weekend in Pennsylvania’s Lackawanna County, slated to test his post-surgery recovery with back-to-back appearances for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Instead, the right-hander was in the home bullpen at Yankee Stadium, on call for duty in the Subway Series against the Mets. The Yankees activated Loáisiga from the 15-day injured list ahead of Friday night’s game, designating left-hander Tyler Matzek for assignment in a corresponding move.
Loáisiga pitched a scoreless sixth inning in the Yankees' 6-2 series-opening win, working around a Brandon Nimmo double.
“It was exciting,” Loáisiga said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “I’ve got to thank God to be able to be back here. The Subway Series means a lot to me, being able to be back and seeing game action.”
The outing marked the 30-year-old Loáisiga’s return from right elbow surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament performed last April 12. That procedure was not the traditional Tommy John surgery, instead using an internal brace.
Loáisiga re-signed with the Yankees in December, inking a one-year, $5 million deal. He then explained he felt he “owed it to the team and the fans” to return in pinstripes after being limited to just four innings last season.
“I was missing it,” Loáisiga said. “I wanted to be out there pitching for the team, pitching for the fans.”
In the Minors, Loáisiga made six rehab appearances (one start) with Single-A Tampa and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, permitting one run and three hits over 7 1/3 innings (1.23 ERA), walking none and striking out nine.
“We feel like he’s throwing the ball really well,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ll be careful with him these first couple of weeks, making sure we build it successfully, but we’re really excited with the way he’s throwing the ball and what he could mean to our ‘pen.”
Matzek, 34, posted a 4.26 ERA across seven appearances with the Yanks, permitting three runs and 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked five and struck out seven.
The Yankees also made a minor trade on Friday, swapping left-hander Rob Zastryzny to the Brewers in exchange for cash considerations.
Zastryzny, 33, had a 4.50 ERA in 13 appearances for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, spanning 12 innings.
In an additional injury update, Boone characterized it as “probably unlikely” that infielder Oswaldo Cabrera will return this season. Cabrera sustained a left ankle fracture on May 12 at Seattle, and Boone said ligament damage was repaired during the subsequent surgery, performed on Thursday.
“My return to the field begins today,” Cabrera wrote in an Instagram post on Thursday evening. “Thanks to you, I feel more motivated than ever.”