by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/22/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis (back) took six at-bats during a simulated game Wednesday, the Journal News reports. But the Yankees aren't sure when he'll be ready for a real game.
"I can't tell you," manager Joe Girardi said. "I think you have to give him a few days in a row before you evaluate to make sure that his back is healed and it doesn’t come back. The last two days have been pretty good, so he’s getting closer."
Kevin Youkilis starts swinging bat
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/21/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis took three at-bats Tuesday, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. Youkilis took some batting practice and fielding drills Monday.
Youkilis was only tracking pitches Monday but was allowed to swing away Tuesday. He remains at least a week away from returning for the Yankees.
Kevin Youkilis still at least a week away
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/20/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis was able to take batting practice and field ground balls Monday, the Journal News reports.
That said, Youkilis is almost certainly at least a week away from returning for New York manager Joe Girardi.
"Is it possible we see him on this road trip? Maybe," Girardi said. "But I would expect to see him maybe a little bit the following week if everything goes OK."
Kevin Youkilis making progress
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/19/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis has been making progress in his rehab of a back injury, the Journal News reports Sunday.
Youkilis has been hitting off a tee and against soft toss. He's also been taking ground balls. Manager Joe Girardi said Youkilis is advancing well.
The Yankees have not given Youkilis' return a target date. He's on the disabled list retroactive to April 28.
Kevin Youkilis moving onto batting practice 'pretty soon'
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/16/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis (back), who hit tee-and-toss Wednesday, said he will move onto batting practice "pretty soon." But Youkilis didn't specify how soon it will be, according to ESPN.
Kevin Youkilis hits tee-and-toss
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/15/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis hit tee-and-toss Wednesday, manager Joe Girardi told MLB.com.
On the disabled list since April 30 with a lumbar spine sprain, Youkilis does not have a timetable to return. He is on the DL retroactive to April 28.
Kevin Youkilis returns to field work
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/14/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis (back) resumed limited on-field work Monday, which included playing catch and fielding grounders on the infield grass, the Associated Press reports. Youkilis has been on the disabled list retroactively since April 28 with a spine sprain and the team has yet to determine a return date for the veteran.
Kevin Youkilis undergoes 'rotational' excerises
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/10/2013) Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters that injured third baseman Kevin Youkilis underwent some "rotational" exercises, which he labeled it a step forward toward his recovery process.
Youkilis, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a lumbar spine sprain, does not have a concrete timetable for his return. He hit .266 with two homers and seven RBI in 64 at-bats before landing on the DL.
"I don’t have an expectation for when we’re going to see him," Girardi told the Star Ledger. "I know he’s going in the right direction. Backs are tricky. I’ve said this all along. And you never know. It could be as simple as bending over to get a coffee cup. It can lock you up."
Kevin Youkilis feels he will return when eligible
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, said he has a bulging disc and some inflammation in his back. However, he believes he will be ready to go once he's eligible to come off the 15-day DL, but he doesn't plan to partake in baseball activities for a week.
Youkilis said he should have told the team he wasn't 100 percent before he returned to the lineup for one game Saturday.
"I think im more to blame than anyone," he said, per The Wall Street Journal.
Cashman: Playing Kevin Youkilis was a mistake
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/30/2013) Yankees general manager Brian Cashman expressed regret for playing injured third baseman Kevin Youkilis Saturday, the Newark Star-Ledger reports Tuesday.
"Playing him on Saturday was a mistake by everyone involved," Cashman said before Tuesday’s game with Houston. "He had six days off. He felt he was ready. He played. He slid into first base. He’s still balky from it."
Not only did playing him possibly injure him further, but Youkilis must remain on the disabled list until May 13 because the Yankees lost the ability to retroactively place him on the DL. If he wasn't activated Saturday, he would have been eligible to come off the DL May 7.
Youkilis received an epidural for the pain Tuesday and has been instructed to remain at home and rest.
Kevin Youkilis officially lands on DL
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/30/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a lumbar spine sprain. The move is retroactive to Sunday and the veteran slugger is expected to be sidelined until at least the middle of May.
Youkilis opened the season -- his first with New York -- on a nine-game hitting streak before stumbling afterward and missing six consecutive games at one point because of the lower back injury. Jayson Nix is expected to continue receiving starts at third base in his absence.
DL stint likely for Kevin Youkilis
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/30/2013) Despite being cleared of any structural damage after an MRI exam Monday, Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis could still require a stint on the disabled list because of a lower back injury, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports. Youkilis, who has played just once over the past nine games, is scheduled to receive an epidural Tuesday before the team determines his candidacy for the DL.
"I have had epidurals and played the next day or two days later," manager Joe Girardi, a former catcher, told the New York Post Monday. "I don't know if he is in position to play in two days. I probably wasn’t as bad as he felt. ... He has a pre-existing condition so it can get irritated."
Youkilis' possible DL stint would be backdated only to last Saturday after he ended a six-game absence to play against the Blue Jays, finishing 0 for 3 with a walk. Over the past three seasons, he has not played more than 122 games, primarily due to injuries.
"The big thing for me and the doctors is to get me as healthy as possible to play all the way through the end of September," the 34-year-old said. "I've felt different things in different areas."
Kevin Youkilis' MRI comes back clean
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/29/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis finally recieved the results of the MRI he underwent on his ailing back Monday, MLB.com reports. The MRI came back negative.
Youkilis will get an epidural on Tuesday and the Yankees are discussing whether or not he'll need a disabled-list stint.
Kevin Youkilis out while awaiting MRI results
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/29/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis was held out of the starting lineup for the eighth time in nine games Monday against the Astros because of a nagging back injury. The Yankees have yet to release the results of his MRI.
Kevin Youkilis' back causing concern
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/28/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who is out of the lineup Sunday due to his bad back after returning Saturday, is dealing with a stiff back again, ESPN reports. Manager Joe Girardi is getting concerned and the infielder will undergo an MRI Monday.
"It is a little concerning for me," Girardi said. "I've said that all backs can be tricky. I'm a guy who has had to deal with it for a number of years. Sometimes you have no idea why it acts up."
Youkilis met with team doctors Sunday, which determined an MRI was necessary. The Yankees lost the ability to retroactively place Youk on the DL after playing him Saturday.
"He is an important guy to our lineup because he kind of surrounds some of the left-hander hitters and he is a production guy and he is a home run guy," Girardi said. "He is important, so we have to get this right. We can't push it too fast. If there are days that he is a little stiff, we may have to back off a little bit and try again the next day."
Kevin Youkilis still having back issues
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/28/2013) Yankees infielder Kevin Youkilis could not get into the starting lineup on Sunday against Toronto as his back remains stiff. Youkilis returned to action Saturday after missing the previous six contests.
Youkilis went 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored Saturday but clearly is not 100 percent following the back issue. He is considered day to day at this point for the Yankees.
Kevin Youkilis scores run in return
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis returned to the lineup Saturday against the Blue Jays after missing the previous six contests due to a back injury. Serving as DH, he went 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Youkilis also left three men on base in a 5-4 win.
Youkilis is batting .266 with two homers and seven RBI.
Kevin Youkilis back in lineup
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis not only avoided the disabled list but was able to get back in the lineup on Saturday against Toronto. Youkilis had not played since April 20 due to a back injury.
Jayson Nix remained at third base with Youkilis getting the start at first.
Kevin Youkilis looks to have avoided DL
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) The Yankees made a series of moves on Saturday with Austin Romine and Vidal Nuno being called up. That said, with no other callups announced, it appears Kevin Youkilis is not going on the disabled llist, the Journal News reports.
Youkilis hasn't played since April 20 due to back issues.
Kevin Youkilis out of Friday's lineup
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (4/26/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis remains out of Friday's lineup with back issues, the Star-Ledger reports.
Youkilis hasn't played since April 20. The Yankees will decide whether or not to place him on the disabled list Saturday. Jayson Nix gets the start at third base again in his stead.
Kevin Youkilis trying to get back into lineup
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/25/2013) Yankees manager Joe Girardi said third baseman Kevin Youkilis tried to take swings in the batting cage Thursday, but his back didn't feel right, which led to him being scratched from the lineup for a fifth straight game. Girardi said Youkilis will try the same routine again before Friday's game against the Blue Jays.
Kevin Youkilis misses fifth straight start
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/25/2013) Yankees starting third baseman Kevin Youkilis did not return to the lineup Thursday vs. Toronto, missing a fifth straight start because of a back injury. Jayson Nix started once again in Youkilis' absence.
Kevin Youkilis shooting for Thursday return
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/24/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis is not likely to be available Wednesday at Tampa Bay, the Journal News reports. Manager Joe Girardi said he'll continue to go easy on the veteran.
"I’ll see how he goes through the day," Girardi said. "I don’t know if he’s even going to do much out here, but my guess is probably not (available to pinch hit)."
Girardi did say he hopes Youkilis will get the start Thursday against Toronto.
Yankees' lineup remains Kevin Youkilis-less
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/24/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis was unable to return to the starting lineup Wednesday at Tampa Bay for a fourth straight game because of a back injury. Jayson Nix once again replaced Youkilis in the lineup.
Back injury nothing new for Kevin Youkilis
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/24/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis said the back injury that has kept him sidelined the last three games is the same type of injury he dealt with in 2011 and 2012, per The Star-Ledger.
"It’s the same thing," Youkilis said after Tuesday’s 4-3 victory against Tampa Bay. "From all the MRIs and all that stuff, I’ve had before, it’s the same spot. There’s nothing you can do about it. Just try to get some rest and let it heal."
Youkilis was initially in Monday's lineup before being scratched. He's hoping being cautious will avoid a trip to the disabled list.
"I probably rushed a little the other day," he said. "Probably careless on my part. But I love going out there and playing. Sometimes you’ve got to take a backseat and think about longevity."
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/23/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis remained out of the lineup Tuesday at Tampa Bay. Youkilis was expected to be out after manager Joe Girardi said Monday he could miss a few days before getting back in the lineup.
Youkilis, who was scratched Monday, is in a 4-for-28 slump and his season average has dropped from .424 to .295 over his last seven games.
Girardi said he's likely not going to play again until Thursday.
Kevin Youkilis could miss a few days
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/22/2013) Yankees manager Joe Girardi said following Monday's loss at Tampa Bay that injured third baseman Kevin Youkilis could be out "a couple more days" with back tightness, Newsday reports.
Youkilis was a late scratch from Monday's lineup with Lyle Overbay getting the start.
Kevin Youkilis is a late scratch
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/22/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis was scratched from Monday's lineup in Tampa Bay, the New York Daily News reports. The Yankees gave the start to Lyle Overbay instead.
New York reported that Youkilis' back tightened up again following batting practice.
Youkilis missed his first game of the season Sunday with a tight lower back. He's currently mired in a 4-for-28 slump and his season average has dropped from .424 to .295 over the last seven games. Youkilis is considered day to day.
Kevin Youklis returns to Yankees' lineup
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/22/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis returned to the starting lineup Monday at Tampa Bay after missing his first game of the season Sunday with a tight lower back. Youkilis enters play Monday mired in a 4-for-28 slump (.143), dropping his season average from .424 to .295 in his last seven games.
Idle Kevin Youkilis feeling better
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/21/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who sat out Sunday's game against the Blue Jays as expected after being pulled Saturday with a tight lower back, is feeling better, the Journal News reports.
"I feel good," Youkilis said. He also said he's available to pinch-hit or even play in the field, if the Yankees need him.
"I’ll have to see as the day goes on," Girardi said. "I just want to try to clear it up if we can. It’s good that he feels a lot better. That’s a positive thing for us."
Kevin Youkilis unlikely for Sunday
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) Yankees manager Joe Girardi said third baseman Kevin Youkilis"is probably not a player for me tomorrow" after Youkilis left Saturday's game against the Blue Jays with a sore lower back, ESPN.com reports.
"I don’t think it’s anything serious," Girardi said. "That’s the tough part about playing indoors sometimes. The turf grabs at you a little bit."
Youkilis added that he first felt the injury Friday.
"Yesterday it tightened up a little bit and today before the game I knew it was a little tight," Youkilis said. "It just got to the point where it was like, 'You know what? I don’t want to make this anything worse.' Being on this turf, we just decided to make a decision and rest. Sometimes these day games after night games, especially on this turf, it can happen."
Kevin Youkilis leaves with back tightness
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis left Saturday's game against Toronto due to tightness in his lower back, the New York Daily News reports.
Youkilis was replaced by Lyle Overbay after three at-bats. He went 1 for 3 with a two-run single in the fifth.
Youkilis, who also struck out twice in the game, is batting .295 on the year. He's been slumping as he hadn't driven in a run since April 12 before Saturday.
Youkilis can be considered day to day going forward.
Kevin Youkilis keeps rolling
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/12/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis enjoyed another solid performance at the plate during Friday's series opener against the Orioles.
Youkilis picked up an RBI single in the third inning and finished 3 for 3 with an intentional walk in a 5-2 victory. He has hit safely in the first nine games and is batting .424 with two home runs and seven RBI.
More clout to come from Kevin Youkilis?
by Al Melchior | Data Analyst (4/8/2013) It's far, far too early to put stock in season statistics, but a number that Fantasy owners should monitor is Kevin Youkilis' flyball rate.
Though his power production has sagged each of the last two seasons, Youkilis' steady home run-to-flyball ratios have provided hope that we could see 25-plus homer power from him again.
It's the frequency with which Youkilis has lofted the ball that has decreased, as he posted flyball rates below 40 percent in 2011 and 2012. Through six games with the Yankees, eight of Youkilis' 17 hit balls (47 percent) have been flies.
Bear in mind that two fewer flyballs would sink his rate back under 40 percent, so the sample is much too small for us to conclude anything. It is merely a reminder of how much lower his rates were the last two years, but with better health and a new batting stance this season, he could enjoy a resurgence that lasts more than just a week.
Kevin Youkilis belts first homer with Yanks
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/5/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis finished 2 for 4 with a home run during New York's 8-3 loss at Detroit on Friday. Youkilis took Tigers starter Doug Fister deep for a two-run shot in the fifth inning for his first homer as a member of the Yankees.
The former Red Sox slugger has now collected a hit in all four games this season, totaling six hits (two doubles) for a .375 batting average. He has batted out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup the past two games after the Yankees moved Robinson Cano to the two-hole in an effort to provide him more at-bats.
Kevin Youkilis doubles vs. former team
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/1/2013) Third baseman Kevin Youkilis made his Yankees' debut during Monday's season opener against the Red Sox, which was the team he broke into the majors with. Youkilis went 1 for 4 with one double, one run and one strikeout. He stranded four runners, which tied Jayson Nix for most on the team.
Kevin Youkilis smashes another homer against Washington
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (3/29/2013)Kevin Youkilis smashed his sixth home run of the spring for the Yankees on Friday against Washington.
Youkilis has shown impressive power all spring with six doubles and a triple to go with the six home runs in just 50 spring at-bats. He owns an absurd .820 slugging percentage to go with a .280 batting average, and the life he's shown in spring has to be encouraging for the Yankees, who will be without Alex Rodriguez for much of the season.
Change is good for Kevin Youkilis
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/25/2013) To piggyback what Michael Hurcomb said about the Yankees' Kevin Youkilis over the weekend, I think the most encouraging part about the 34-year-old's spring performance isn't the performance itself but that it's coming after he completely remade himself at the plate.
When a hitter makes changes as dramatic as the ones Youkilis made with his new hitting coach, Kevin Long, this offseason, lowering his hands and positioning his legs further apart, usually one of two things happens: He has such a hard time adapting to them that he hits nothing but weak grounders to shortstop before eventually giving up and reverting to what worked (or didn't work) before, or he sticks with it because it's making a real difference.
Youkilis' five home runs show it's making a real difference. He's producing, and if it isn't a disaster, chances are it's working.
I wouldn't invest heavily in Youklis, but knowing the improvements Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher made under Long, his big spring has me thinking he's an ideal stopgap for Chase Headley or Hanley Ramirez owners.
Kevin Youkilis looking sharp in Pinstripes
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/24/2013) Pinstripes seem to agree with Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who has homered five times in 15 spring games. He also has 12 RBI, five doubles, one triple and is slugging .786.
Now, if you think Youkilis is going to slug .786 during the season, then you are clearly dreaming. The only question beckons is whether or Youkilis will get back to slugging in the mid-.500 range after being .459 or worse the last two seasons.
Remember, Youkilis tinkered with his batting stance in the offseason and it seems the adjustments are paying off. I don't think Fantasy owners can disregard what Youkilis is doing this spring. Still, I think it's hard for Youkilis to make a significant jump up the Fantasy rankings with all the emerging talent at third base, including Mike Moustakas, Will Middlebrooks, David Freese, Pedro Alvarez, Kyle Seager and Jedd Gyorko (who is third-base eligible in Fantasy).
Fantasy owners are going to have to take a hard look at third base and evaluate whether they want upside or a potential resurgent veteran like Youkilis. I think most Fantasy owners are going to take upside, which could end up making Youkilis a Draft Day steal. Though, despite a solid spring, I'm not reaching for the 34-year-old veteran.
Kevin Youkilis goes deep twice Sunday
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/24/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis had a big Grapefruit League game Sunday against Tampa Bay. Starting at third and hitting fourth for the Yankees, Youkilis homered twice in the game.
He went 2 for 4 with four RBI as he went deep in the first inning off starter Jeremy Hellickson for a two-run shot. He added another two-run blast in the eighth inning off Jamey Wright. Youkilis is hitting .262 this spring but already has five homers and 12 RBI.
Youkilis will start at third to open the season for the injury-depleted Yankees and should hit in the middle of the batting order for manager Joe Girardi.
Youkilis having quiet spring
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/11/2013) Yankees infielder Kevin Youkilis connected for his first spring homer Monday against the Orioles. Youkilis had a solo homer off Lance Lynn in the fourth inning, which broke open a scoreless game. Youkilis finished 1 for 2 with two RBI. Youkilis is batting .154 (2 for 13) through six spring games.
Injury not a concern for Youkilis
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/1/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis showed no signs of injury and finished 0 for 1 with a walk during New York's 10-5 loss to Philadelphia in a Grapefruit League game Friday. Youkilis was back in the lineup and played third base after missing the past two games in order to rest a sore left oblique.
Youkilis following orders to rest
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/27/2013) ESPN reports Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who was scratched from Tuesdays lineup because of a sore left oblique, took some swings with a fungo bat and sat in on a 90-minute Players Association meeting before heading home. "I'm perfectly all right [but] I'm following all orders," Youkilis said. "For me, the limitations of holding me back stinks, but I understand what they’re doing. And it makes a lot of sense." Youkilis hopes to be back in the lineup soon. "If they let me play tomorrow, I'm totally in for playing tomorrow," he said.
Youkilis needs some time off
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/26/2013) Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis was scratched from Tuesday's spring lineup against the Phillies with a sore left oblique. Manager Joe Girardi classified the injury as minor and expects Youkilis to be re-evaluated in a couple of days. Girardi hinted Youkilis probably would be playing if it were the regular season. “Basically, yesterday I had a little cramp,” Youkilis said, per MLB.com. “That just turned into, we’re going to be precautionary. I’m fine. I could play today and I’m perfectly fine, but they were just like, ‘No, we’re going to sit you out.’”
Youkilis to tweak his stance
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (1/16/2013) According to YES Network, Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis will attempt to adjust his batting stance this spring, lowering his hands, moving his legs further apart and dropping into more of a crouch. Hitting coach Kevin Long recently told the New York Post that he thought he could get Youkilis back on track. “We looked at old film and compared it to 2012," Long said. “We saw some considerable differences, mainly in his stance and it looked like the adjustments had an impact. ... I think we can get him back to being an All-Star caliber player."
