BALTIMORE -- José Caballero wore a look of frustration as he flipped a pink Mother’s Day bat in the air, end over end, while approaching his locker in the Camden Yards visiting clubhouse on Monday afternoon.
Not in the Yankees’ lineup and scheduled to return to New York for testing on his ailing right middle finger after Monday’s game, the infielder made little attempt to hide his displeasure.
“I got treatment already. The next step is to get an MRI and see what’s going on,” Caballero said as his team prepared to open a three-game series against the Orioles. “I don’t think it’s fractured.”
Caballero sustained the injury diving back into first base during the ninth inning of the Yankees’ 4-3 loss to the Brewers in Milwaukee on Sunday. He said he attempted to throw, but “it just doesn’t feel great.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he could use Caballero off the bench as a pinch-runner or even to hit, noting that Caballero’s batting cage session seemed to go well, but acknowledged the injury could be an issue.
“There’s definitely some concern,” Boone said. “For those of you who have been around Cabby, he’s as tough as they come. He just had a little hard time when he went to throw today. The good thing is, hitting was good, so we’ll see.”
Max Schuemann started at shortstop on Monday in place of Caballero. If it is a day-to-day situation, Boone said, it’s possible Schuemann could continue receiving starts.
“That’s kind of his calling card, his ability to play everywhere,” Boone said.
If the situation sidelines Caballero for a longer stretch, Anthony Volpe remains at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after being optioned at the conclusion of his Minor League rehab assignment.
Volpe entered Monday 8-for-39 (.205) in nine Triple-A games, with a homer and five RBIs.
Boone said he hasn’t spoken with Volpe since the team optioned him to the Minors.
“He’s mentally a very tough kid, and that will serve him well as he navigates this,” Boone said.
Oswaldo Cabrera is also playing for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after being limited most of the spring while recovering from a severe left ankle fracture. Cabrera entered Monday 26-for-120 (.217) in 32 Triple-A games, with six doubles, a triple, two homers and 12 RBIs.
But the Yankees’ preference would be to keep plugging in Caballero, considering how well he has performed in Volpe’s absence.
“He’s been such a good performer for us here to start the year, on both sides of the ball,” Boone said.