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Star New York Yankees pitcher sparks fears of dreaded Tommy John surgery as he exits game with elbow soreness

The New York Yankees’ roster has already been impacted by multiple injuries. Now, they’ve lost another one of their stars in a key position which could spell doom for their once-promising season.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Yankees were playing the Baltimore Orioles when starting pitcher Max Fried left the game early.

Fried only managed to go three innings in the matinee – during which he made an uncharacteristic throwing error – before he walked down the tunnel and into the Yankees’ locker room.

Paul Blackburn replaced Fried in that inning after the initial starter tossed just 61 pitches.

After the Yankees lost 7-0, the team revealed that Fried was experiencing elbow posterior soreness in his pitching elbow. 

Fried will be examined by Dr Christopher Ahmad in New York on Thursday, when he is expected to undergo imaging, according to multiple reports.

Yankees pitcher Max Fried is sparking fan’s fears after he left his game due to an elbow issue

Fried committed an uncharacteristic throwing error in the third inning before leaving the game

Fried committed an uncharacteristic throwing error in the third inning before leaving the game

The ace told reporters that he simply felt a hyperextension in his elbow and isn't 'too worried'

The ace told reporters that he simply felt a hyperextension in his elbow and isn’t ‘too worried’

Fried, who held a 2.91 ERA going into Wednesday’s start, told reporters, ‘I’m definitely planning on this thing being a sooner rather than later… I’m not too worried about a super long-term thing.

‘If I can, I would love to be able to make my next start, but we’ll see.’

Fried described his injury feeling like a hyperextension, adding, ‘There’ve been numerous starts this year where I’ve kinda like hyperextended… kinda that banging feeling, it just kinda goes away or you’re able to deal with it for a couple pitches. Normally it goes away, this one, I think it’s just probably one too many times.’

The Yankees are already down two star pitchers in their rotation – making a loss of Fried even more impactful.

Ace pitcher Gerrit Cole has yet to return from ligament replacement surgery he underwent in March. However, he seems set to come back from that soon.

Additionally, 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil has been playing down in the minors for most of the season. He was recently placed on the injured list due to inflammation in his right shoulder.

The team recently brought back Carlos Rodon after he underwent surgery last October to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and to shave a bone spur.