Mar 16, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees first base Paul Goldschmidt (48) looks on against the Pittsburgh Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

mlb

Yankees Injury Update: Yet Another Cause for Concern as Paul Goldschmidt Exits Game Early

"Zero" concerns about Opening Day!

The New York Yankees’ spring injury woes continue, as veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt exited Monday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays after just two at-bats due to lingering back soreness. The 37-year-old has been dealing with the issue for several days but emphasized that he has no concerns about being ready for Opening Day.

Paul Goldschmidt exited after three innings with a sore back. He said he has been dealing with it for a couple of days and didn’t want to push it. Goldschmidt said he has “zero” concerns about being ready for Opening Day.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 17, 2025

“Zero concern,” Goldschmidt said after the Yankees’ 6-5 loss at TD Ballpark. “It wasn’t any worse today, but with a week left before the season starts, it just made sense to play it safe.” The decision to remove Goldschmidt came after two lengthy innings that required prolonged standing in the field. Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that played a role in the choice to pull him early, downplaying the severity of the issue.

“I don’t think it’s anything too serious,” Boone said. However, given the Yankees’ injury-plagued spring, any new concern raises alarms.

Goldschmidt was already scheduled to sit out Tuesday’s game after playing back-to-back days, but Boone expects him to return to the lineup Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves.

ALSO READ: Yankees Opening Day 2025: Who Will Start the First Game?

Injuries have hit the Yankees hard this spring, particularly their pitching staff. Additionally, the team is set to begin the season without Giancarlo Stanton (tennis elbow) and DJ LeMahieu (calf strain), further testing their depth. Goldschmidt has been one of the Yankees’ most productive hitters this spring, posting a .313 batting average with a 1.077 OPS across 13 games.

Paul Goldschmidt bounce back season 🔜pic.twitter.com/hOrdMf5r8A
— Anthony Jacques  (@TheJoc26) February 21, 2025

“This was more about managing it than pushing through,” Goldschmidt said. “With the season so close, there’s no reason to take any unnecessary risks.”

Injury update

Paul goldschmidt

Yankees

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.