Estevan Florial is back in The Bronx to provide outfield backup for a “stiff and sore” Brett Gardner.
The Yankees called up Florial on Saturday ahead of their game against the Twins, a day after Gardner was drilled on the elbow by a pitch and left Friday’s win early.
“Just to give us some coverage there,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Florial was not in the starting lineup, but was available off the bench. Boone was unsure whether he would have Gardner available as of Saturday morning.
“[He’s feeling] pretty good, stiff and sore, like you’d expect,” Boone said. “We’ll see how available he is for today as far as off the bench. Hopefully fine in the next day or two as far as getting back in there.”
The call-up is Florial’s third of the season. The 23-year-old outfielder hit .300 (6-for-20) with a home run in his first eight games of the year, seven of which came during one of the Yankees’ COVID-19 outbreaks.