New York Yankees shortstop Brendan Ryan was carried off the field and down the dougout stairs with a right leg injury during Wednesday's Spring Training game. The Yankees claim that it is a "strained right calf."
Ryan got the start because regular shortstop Didi Gregorius is currently sidelined with a wrist injury. The Yankees are also without infielder Jose Pirela.
Ryan missed the beginning of Spring Training with a back sprain. It looks like he just strained his calf while going after the ball. Ryan was carried off the field, which shows he was in a lot of pain.
Manager Joe Girardi said that Stephen Drew will not play shortstop, so that means that Nick Noonan will be the shortstop until Gregorius or Ryan can get healthy. Drew will continue to be the everyday second baseman for New York.
Ryan, 33, was drafted in the seventh round of the 2003 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He has bounced around the league, but has been in New York for one and a half seasons.
In 2014, Ryan hit an awful .167/.211/.202 with zero home runs and eight RBIs. He played in 49 games and took 114 at-bats, but had just 19 hits and four walks. Ryan had a -0.7 WAR that season.
The shortstop did not get much better in 2015 Spring Training with the Yankees. He slashed .200/.273/.350 over seven games and 20 at-bats. Ryan got four hits (three for extra bases) and two walks, while striking out five times. He hit zero home runs and racked up one RBI.
As for Noonan, he is listed as a pinch hitter, second baseman, and third baseman. However, the position of shortstop will have to be added on because it seems as if he will get the starts until Gregorious or Ryan are healthy.
Noonan was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round, the 32nd pick in the 2007 MLB Draft. He debuted on April 3, 2013, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Noonan went 0-for-1 in his pinch hitting opportunity.
During 2013, his last season in the Majors, Noonan slashed .219/.261/.238, which is not much better than Ryan. The 25-year-old hit zero home runs and had just five RBI over 62 games and 105 at-bats.
The left-handed batter tried to turn things around during 2015 Spring Training with New York. He has played in 20 games and taken 28 at-bats. Noonan has snagged seven hits and two walks, while striking out eight times. He is slashing .250/.281/.321 to this point. The bat seems to be coming around, but only time will tell for Noonan.
Ryan, meanwhile, will undergo an MRI to determe the severity of the injury to his right calf. After the diagnosis comes back, there will be clarity on who will take over the shortstop position.