James Paxton Is Out For New York

Pitchers as well as catchers haven’t reported to Tampa Florida yet to begin Spring Training and already the team that wears the pinstripes has a starting pitcher out for a significant amount of time.

Who is that pitcher?

Starting left-hander James Paxton who is from Ladner, BC, Canada.

Paxton’s season debut will be delayed after the Yankees announced on Wednesday that the left-hander underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy with removal of a peridiscal cyst. According to an article by Brian Hoch

The surgery was performed by Dr. Andrew Dossett in Dallas, and the club said that Paxton’s approximate timeline to return to Major League action is three to four months. According to an article by Brian Hoch

General manager Brian Cashman said that Paxton first reported the injury issue in September, receiving treatment after his final regular-season start on Sept. 27 against the Rangers in Arlington. According to an article by Brian Hoch

Paxton received an injection, and Cashman said the hurler’s recovery was part of the reason he was pushed back to start Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Astros, with the Game 1 nod going to Masahiro Tanaka.”according to an article by Brian Hoch

Following the season, Cashman said multiple doctors recommended a conservative treatment program that did not require surgery. Paxton contacted the Yanks about four to six weeks ago to report a recurrence of the discomfort, at which time the conservative protocol was again recommended.”according to an article by Brian Hoch

Paxton’s career has been marked by flashes of brilliance, pockmarked with injury concerns. The 31-year-old was 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA in 29 starts for the Yankees last season, his first in New York. He is eligible for free agency after the 2020 season.”according to an article by Brian Hoch

With Paxton unavailable, the Yanks’ Opening Day rotation now projects to have ace Gerrit Cole followed by Luis Severino, Tanaka and J.A. Happ, in some order. Cashman said that the “storm clouds” of Paxton’s unresolved injury were a factor in the club’s decision not to trade Happ in December.”according to an article by Brian Hoch