Ryan McMahon exited the New York Yankees' 5-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday with a left-hand injury. The third baseman sustained the injury in the second inning while sliding into second base but initially remained in the game.
McMahon underwent X-rays that he said showed no damage, though further testing is scheduled for Thursday. He described his thumb as "a little sore" after it got caught during the slide while he was attempting to stretch an RBI single into a double. As the game progressed, increased swelling led him to inform manager Aaron Boone, who opted to pinch-hit for McMahon in the top of the eighth with two runners on and two outs. José Caballero entered and was hit by a pitch to load the bases, followed by George Lombard Jr.'s infield single that proved to be the go-ahead hit.
McMahon expressed hope that he would not miss significant playing time. "It's a little sore," he said of his thumb.
The Yankees continue to face offensive challenges, entering Wednesday's game with the second-lowest OPS and second-fewest runs scored in the majors since Aaron Judge fractured his rib. Despite these struggles, Boone defended the team's hitting coaches, led by James Rowson, stating he has "a ton of confidence" in their preparation and methods, while acknowledging the team's difficulty in achieving results. He noted that the absence of key players like Judge creates challenges, and that many players have underperformed individually.
Looking for a potential boost, the Yankees are anticipating the return of Cody Bellinger, who is scheduled to play in a minor league rehab game with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. However, there remains no clear timeline for Judge's return.
In other team news, pitcher Max Fried had "another good day" on Wednesday, according to Boone, following his placement on the 15-day injured list Monday with inflammation near his elbow. Catcher Christian Bethancourt was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash. Bethancourt, 34, had signed a minor league deal with the Yankees last month after his release by the Chicago Cubs and had appeared in eight games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was part of a catching group that also includes veteran Mitch Garver, who signed a minor league deal after his release by Seattle earlier this month. Bethancourt last played in the majors with Chicago in 2024.