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Jon Berti was supposed to be playing in rehab games this weekend.
Instead, the utility infielder will be in New York on Saturday to receive another PRP injection on his calf after suffering a setback within the last week, before the Yankees hope he can begin to ramp up his running again next week.
“It’s not imminent now,” manager Aaron Boone said before Friday’s 6-1 win over the Rays at Yankee Stadium to start the second half of the season. “The setback was minor, it’s not like it took him back to [the start]. … It’s going to be a little bit longer.”
Berti, who has been out since May 25 with a left calf strain, is an important piece in that he could have returned to start at third base, where DJ LeMahieu has been struggling mightily since returning from his own injury.
The 34-year-old Berti, who also offers protection at second base, shortstop and even left field, was batting .273 with four seals and a .649 OPS before getting hurt.
The Yankees were already expected to be in the market for a corner infielder ahead of the July 30 trade deadline, but now they are unlikely to have Berti back before then.
Clarke Schmidt, who has been out since the end of May with a right lat strain, is set to throw his first bullpen session on Saturday since being shut down for four weeks.
Schmidt described it as a light session, but said if all goes well, he would throw a “full-blown” bullpen session on Tuesday.
The right-hander, who had posted a 2.52 ERA across 11 starts, remains a possibility to return in August and said his rehab process has gone smoothly so far.
“Really happy with where everything’s at, feeling really good,” he said. “Mentally, there’s no roadblocks as far as holding back or anything like that.”
Anthony Rizzo has still not been able to do much in his recovery from an arm fracture.
“He’s definitely making progress, but it’s slow,” Boone said.
After the Yankees on Sunday optioned reliever Scott Effross to Triple-A, where he can continue building back from Tommy John and back surgery, Boone said it’s important for the reliever to just keep pitching.
“[We’re] paying attention to it and hopefully at some point he’s ready to come up and help us,” Boone said.
Cody Poteet (triceps strain) has advanced to throwing lightly off the mound, but said he is “close” to throwing an official bullpen session.
The Yankees took another flier on a lefty, signing Thomas Pannone to a minor league deal and assigning him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The 30-year-old has a career 5.46 ERA across 50 major league games (13 starts) with the Blue Jays and Brewers.
He was starting for the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate this season, posting a 4.37 ERA in 19 starts before his release Wednesday.
Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman and some of his players were on the field Friday to watch the Yankees take batting practice.
Freeman spent time talking with Boone and a few Yankees.
The Fighting Irish are scheduled to face Army at Yankee Stadium in November.
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