CHICAGO — Monday appears to be decision day for Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran.
Beltran, currently on the 15-day disabled list with a bone spur in his right elbow, will reportedly take some test swings on Monday to gauge progress in his recovery.
If pain persists surgery may be required. And the 37-year-old veteran could be out until late July.
“We’ll kind of keep our fingers cross for Monday and how that goes and go from there,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “They told us if there was surgery, it would be eight-to-10 weeks. I’m assuming it’s from the time he has surgery.”
A career .282 hitter, Beltran was batting .234 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 33 games when he went on the disabled list on May 13.
Right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley (1-2, 3.52 ERA) also apparently won’t be returning from the disabled list any time soon.
After playing catch at Yankee Stadium last Monday, the second-year reliever’s back stiffened up. Kelley, who last appeared on May 6 against the Angels in Anaheim, had been scheduled for a minor league rehab assignment this weekend but that’s been delayed.
“The rehab is on hold,” Girardi said on Wednesday prior to the Yankees’ series finale against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.