Yankees pitcher avoids surgery, announces he is hopeful to return this season

New York Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz revealed Monday that he will attempt to delay surgery and return before the end of the regular season.

The 36-year-old was diagnosed with a partial right UCL tear and placed on the 15-day injured list in late August.

After receiving a cortisone injection, medical staff cleared him to begin a rehab protocol rather than proceed immediately with surgery.

How his arm responds to treatment and throwing over the coming days will determine whether a return before the postseason is realistic.

This season across 61 appearances, Cruz has posted a 3.13 ERA with 67 strikeouts across 54 2/3 innings. He has been one of the more reliable arms in the Yankees bullpen all year, and manager Aaron Boone will be eager to get him back if the arm cooperates. New York is in the middle of a tight American League wild card race and every available weapon in the late innings matters as the calendar winds down.

Cruz's strikeout ability is what makes him particularly valuable in high-leverage situations. His rate of over a strikeout per inning reflects a pitcher who consistently misses bats, which is exactly the profile you want in the seventh and eighth innings during a pennant race. A healthy Cruz gives Boone another legitimate option as the Yankees push toward October.

The risk of delaying surgery is real for a pitcher with a partial UCL tear, but for a 36-year-old reliever with a chance to contribute in a playoff run, it is a calculated gamble worth taking. The next week of throwing will tell the Yankees everything they need to know about whether that gamble pays off.