Sat Jul 05 21:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Yankees Face Injury Woes in Toronto, Cruz to IL, Grisham Exits with Hamstring Issue

**TORONTO** – The New York Yankees’ trip to Toronto has been marred by injuries, with right-hander Fernando Cruz landing on the 15-day injured list with a strained left oblique. The team has called up righty Geoff Hartlieb from Triple-A to fill his roster spot.

Cruz’s injury is a significant blow to the Yankees bullpen. The veteran pitcher boasts a 3.00 ERA with two saves and a stellar 41.2% strikeout rate, leading all pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched. Manager Aaron Boone described the injury as a “high-grade oblique strain,” indicating a lengthy absence for Cruz, whose IL stint is retroactive to June 28th.

Adding to the Yankees’ concerns, outfielder Trent Grisham was forced to leave Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays after four innings due to a tight left hamstring. Jasson Dominguez replaced Grisham in left field in the fifth inning, with Cody Bellinger shifting from left to center. Grisham went 1-for-2 with a run scored before his exit.

Catcher Austin Wells remained out of the lineup for the second consecutive day, sidelined by a circulation issue in one of the fingers on his left hand. Boone explained that the injury is likely due to the wear and tear of catching but emphasized that Wells has undergone testing to rule out the possibility of a blood clot. Wells is expected to be out until Wednesday, with J.C. Escarra filling in behind the plate in the meantime.

“Everything we’ve gotten back has been good so far,” Boone said regarding Wells’ test results. “It’s not something that bothers him from a performance standpoint.”

Wells, who is batting .214 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs in 69 games, said he’s experienced discoloration on his finger since last season, but it has worsened in the past two weeks. The situation prompted the thorough testing, referencing a similar past issue with former Yankees catcher Ben Rortvedt.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Hartlieb, the Yankees designated infielder CJ Alexander for assignment.

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