In a crushing blow to both the player and the team, New York Yankees reliever Jonathan Loáisiga’s season has come to an abrupt end due to a right elbow flexor strain, manager Aaron Boone announced Thursday. The 30-year-old pitcher, whose career has been plagued by injuries, will not throw another pitch in 2025, casting serious doubt on his future with the franchise.
Loáisiga, who consulted renowned surgeon Dr. Keith Meister earlier this week, has avoided the need for surgery for now, offering a glimmer of hope. “He’ll be done for the year, but nothing they have to go intervene on right now,” Boone said before the Yankees’ commanding 10-4 victory. However, the team remains cautious, as flexor strains can often signal deeper issues, potentially leading to the dreaded Tommy John surgery. Boone expressed tentative optimism about Loáisiga’s surgically repaired UCL, which was operated on last spring, noting that it “seems OK” for now.
The oft-injured right-hander, who carries a $5 million club option for next season, faces an uncertain future. Given his extensive injury history, it seems unlikely the Yankees will exercise the option, making Loáisiga’s return to the Bronx in 2026 a long shot. The pitcher, who posted a 4.25 ERA this season and struggled to regain his peak form, had been sidelined since early August with mid-back tightness. He was on the cusp of returning when elbow soreness surfaced, leading to the flexor strain diagnosis and subsequent specialist consultations.
Loáisiga is expected to rejoin the team in Houston on Tuesday, but his absence leaves a void in the bullpen as the Yankees push toward the postseason. The team’s pitching depth has taken a hit, and Boone is looking to other options to fill the gap. Ryan Yarbrough, recovering from an oblique strain, is poised to return to the bullpen when rosters expand on Monday. Yarbrough, who was stretched to 63 pitches in his latest rehab start, could provide flexibility as a long reliever or spot starter. “We’ve wanted to build him up to make sure we have some pitch bandwidth there if we get into a need,” Boone explained.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are navigating other injury challenges. Giancarlo Stanton made a rare appearance in right field on Thursday, his first time playing the position outside Yankee Stadium or Steinbrenner Field. The larger outfield dimensions posed a challenge, but Boone downplayed concerns, saying, “Probably tougher dimensions to handle, but nothing I’m more or less concerned about.” Stanton, who was replaced by José Caballero in the seventh inning for defensive purposes, is unlikely to play the field in all four games of the series, especially with Aaron Judge occupying the designated hitter role as he recovers from his own flexor strain.
Judge, the Yankees’ captain, is progressing in his recovery, playing catch and throwing to second base before Thursday’s game. Boone remains confident that Judge will return to right field before the season ends, though no specific timeline was provided. “He’ll throw a little more with some more intensity while we’re here this weekend,” Boone said. “When that day is, it’ll be.”
As the Yankees forge ahead, the loss of Loáisiga looms large. His injury not only disrupts the team’s immediate plans but also raises questions about his long-term viability in pinstripes. For a pitcher who has shown flashes of brilliance but struggled to stay healthy, this latest setback could mark the end of his tenure with the Yankees, leaving fans and the organization to ponder what might have been.