Kevin Youkilis Dealing With Sore Left Oblique; Says He's 'Perfectly Fine'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis was scratched from New York's lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies for precautionary reasons, according to the team's official website.
The 33-year-old said that he feels a cramp above his left hip, but the team is calling it a sore left oblique.
"Basically, yesterday I had a little cramp," Youkilis said. "That just turned into, 'We're going to be precautionary.' I'm fine. I could play today, and I'm perfectly fine. But they were just like, 'No, we're going to sit you out.'"
Manager Joe Girardi said that the veteran will be evaluated again in the coming days, according to Yankees.com.
With spring training having just begun, the Yankees maintain that they're being extra cautious because they can afford to be.
"I don't think it's anything serious," Girardi said. "We are being really cautious because we can. He won't play today and we will re-evaluate him after a couple of days.''
The three-time All-Star has played one game this spring for the Bronx Bombers, going 0-for-3 at the plate.
"I got up today and was moving around fine," Youkilis said. "It's one of those things where, I think after I swung yesterday and running and all that, it was hot and I got a little dehydrated. When I got water in me, I was fine. Being a month away from games and all that, they just wanted to take it precautionary. I wanted to play today and was perfectly fine to play and didn't feel like there was a risk."
Youkilis was put on the disabled list last season because of a lower back problem and missed 40 games. He played in just 120 games the year prior due to a sports hernia and a back issue and played in just 102 games in 2010 after he suffered a muscle tear in the right thumb.
The ninth-year player hasn't played in at least 145 games since 2008.
The injury bug continues to bite the Yankees. Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...
