The Yankees reinstated Berti (calf) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Berti is back with the Yankees for the first time since late May after completing a lengthy recovery from a left calf strain. Prior to being activated, Berti was sent out on an extended rehab assignment, during which he slashed .342/.422/.526 with two home runs and five walks over 12 games. Though Berti looks to be dialed in at the plate, he'll have to settle for a utility role with the Yankees and may not be guaranteed much more than the occasional start against left-handed pitching.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Won't return Sunday
Rotowire
Berti (calf) will continue his rehab stint through the weekend and "a handful of days" into next week according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
The Yankees can add two players when rosters expand Sunday, but Berti won't be one of them. The utility man has been rehabbing with Double-A Somerset since Aug. 24 and has gone 2-for-12 with a home run, three RBI and a 2:4 BB:K through five contests. It's unclear if New York believes Berti needs more games in the minors to ramp up or if the team has simply elected to go in another direction with its roster expansion, but it appears the 34-year-old won't be back with the big club until at least the end of next week.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Homers in first rehab game
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Berti (calf) went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run for Double-A Somerset in a rehab game Saturday.
In his first game action since suffering a calf strain May 24, Berti crushed a three-run blast in the fourth inning. Considering the length of his absence, the versatile veteran may need at least a few more rehab games before he's ready to rejoin the big club. When he does return to the Yankees, Berti is likely to fill a utility role that probably won't include everyday at-bats.
Yankees' Jon Berti: Starting up rehab assignment Friday
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Berti (calf) is expected to begin a rehab assignment Friday with Double-A Somerset, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
After experiencing no setbacks with his right calf upon being cleared for full baseball activities over the weekend, Berti is ready to play in games for the first time since late May. He'll likely remain on assignment at least through the weekend while he looks to regain his timing at the plate following a lengthy layoff, but if he fares well, Berti could make it back from the 60-day injured list before the end of August. Berti had been filling a utility role for the Yankees prior to straining his calf, but he could pick up regular at-bats at third base once he's activated. The Yankees have been leaning on youngsters Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza at the hot corner since Jazz Chisholm (elbow) landed on the injured list Aug. 14.
Berti (calf) has been cleared for full baseball activity and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week, per MLB.com.
Berti's last game action took place May 24, so he'll likely need to play in multiple minor-league contests before he's deemed ready to return to the big club. The utility man slashed .273/.322/.327 with a home run, six RBI, six runs and four steals over 17 games with New York prior to landing on the IL due to a calf strain. Upon his return, Berti will probably see action at multiple positions, though he's unlikely to have an everyday role.
Berti (calf) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week, per MLB.com.
Berti has been participating in hitting and fielding drills at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla. The 34-year-old last saw game action May 24, so his rehab stint could last several games. Berti is likely to settle into a utility role upon his return, and he could help fill the team's void at third base with Jazz Chisholm heading to the injured list due to an elbow injury.
Berti (calf) has increased his running intensity to 80 percent, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that the utility man is "trending back in a good direction," per MLB.com.
Berti has been on the injured list since late May after suffering a left calf strain. He resumed running in late July and has since upped his intensity, though he remains without a definite timeline for a return. Boone did mention Saturday that Berti is closer than Anthony Rizzo (forearm) to rejoining the Yankees, according to the Associated Press.
Yankees' Jon Berti: Running, but not back to full speed
Rotowire
Berti (calf) ran and performed other baseball activities Friday, but he's not yet back up to full speed, per MLB.com.
Berti has been on the shelf with a left calf strain since late May. He resumed running at approximately 95 percent prior to the All-Star break, then had a setback and was given a PRP injection. Though he's back to being able to run, Berti isn't likely to begin a minor-league rehab assignment until he's up to full speed. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said July 22 that it's "going to be a little bit of time" before Berti is ready to return, though a clear timeline hasn't been shared.
