New York Yankees put LHP Zack Britton on 60-day injured list

NEW YORK — Zack Britton may have played his last game in pinstripes Friday night, as the New York Yankees returned the veteran left-handed reliever to the injured list after struggling in his attempt to come back early from Tommy John surgery.

After being removed from New York's 2-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles the night before due to left arm fatigue, manager Aaron Boone announced Saturday morning that Britton would go back on the injured list, effectively ending his 2022 season just over a week after being activated off the IL.

«He's doing pretty well, actually. Basically, it's just something that we are kind of running out of time here,» Boone explained. «And having a little bit of fatigue last night, it's one of those things that you don't want to power through that and reach for more and then do some damage. He's in a good spot heading into the offseason, so just continuing with that.»

Britton, who has 154 career saves in 11 major league seasons with the Yankees and Orioles, is eligible for free agency after the World Series. The southpaw went through a taxing rehab in his attempt to return to play less than a year after undergoing left elbow reconstruction surgery and having a bone chip removed, Sept. 9, 2021. Britton was activated from the 60-day injured list Sept. 22.

Boone re-stated before Saturday's game against Baltimore that Britton's elbow checked out fine and praised his determination in his comeback attempt.

«I'm just appreciative of how hard he's worked to get to this point, to give himself a chance, obviously, coming back quick by Tommy John's standards,» Boone said. «The rehab's gone really well. It's just that final sharpness, and at this point in the season, he's just kind of up against [the clock]