Already without the suspended Aroldis Chapman for the first 30 games of the season, the New York Yankees are likely going to be missing last year’s closer Andrew Miller for quite a while.
The team announced Wednesday evening that Miller suffered a chip fracture in his right wrist during a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday:
Andrew Miller’s CT scan revealed a chip fracture in his right wrist. A hand specialist will determine next course of action.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 31, 2016
The good news here is that the fracture came on his non-throwing hand. That’s about the extent of the good news.
Miller, 30, saved 36 games while posting a 2.04 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 60 appearances for the Yankees last season.
Miller was slated to hold down the fort at closer until Chapman returned from the MLB-mandated 30-game suspension stemming from his domestic violence incident.
It remains to be seen how long Miller will be out, but it’s safe to say we won’t be seeing him any time soon.
His meeting with the hand specialist will give us a better idea of the reliever’s recovery time. Until then, Dellin Betances will likely serve as the Yankees closer.