Inside The Pinstripes

Yankees' Mike Tauchman Exits Spring Training Game Early After Fouling Pitch Off Right Calf

New York Yankees outfielder Mike Tauchman exited a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies early with injury after fouling pitch off right calf

Max Goodman

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Yankees are 24 hours away from finishing up spring training, but it looks like they won't escape Florida without another injury.

In the second inning of Sunday afternoon's exhibition game against the Phillies, the penultimate game of Grapefruit League play, outfielder Mike Tauchman fouled a pitch off the inside of his right leg just above his cleat. 

He was visibly in discomfort, taking over a minute before he was able to get back into the batter's box. He stayed in the game, striking out to Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler later in the at-bat.

After one more half inning in left field, Tauchman met with the trainers again. The pain hadn't gone away as the 30-year-old spent the entire frame stretching out and keeping his weight off his right side while standing on the outfield grass.

Eventually Tauchman gathered his belongings and disappeared through the tunnel to New York's clubhouse. Ryan LaMarre then jogged out to left field, replacing Tauchman, to start the bottom half of the third. 

After the game—a 6-2 loss for the Yankees—Yankees manager Aaron Boone had good news on Tauchman's status. The skipper said Tauchman had been icing his right calf and shin area and that he was taken out of the game as a precaution to make sure his lower leg didn't continue swelling.

"He'll get some treatment on it," Boone said. "No X-rays as of now and we'll see how he is in the morning."

Shortly after revealing the news that first baseman Luke Voit needs left knee surgery on Saturday, to repair a partial meniscus tear, Boone mentioned that Tauchman had made the Opening Day roster. 

Veteran non-roster invitee Jay Bruce will also start the season with the big-league club, destined to fill in for Voit after this weekend's injury news. It seems, as of now, that this isn't a major issue for Tauchman. A few days of rest and treatment should do the trick, but it also depends on how he feels over the next day or two.

Tauchman struggled in 2020, hitting .242 (23-for-95). The year before, however, Tauchman had a breakout season, posting a slash line of .277/.361/.504 with 13 homers over 87 games. 

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Yankees for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. Goodman has been on the Yankees beat for three seasons. He is also the publisher of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Jets site, Jets Country. Before starting Inside The Pinstripes, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. At school, Goodman was an anchor and reporter with NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. While at Northwestern, Goodman interned with MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman. You can connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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