Jacoby Ellsbury headed to DL with concussion after amazing catch

The Yankees have placed center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury on the seven-day concussion disabled list following a running catch in which he crashed into the outfield wall.

Jacoby Ellsbury’s incredible catch during the Yankees 3-0 victory over the Royals landed him on the concussion disabled list. The often criticized outfielder has been playing better in 2017, hitting .281 with four home runs, 14 runs batted in and a solid .349 on-base percentage.  He hit only .263 in 2016 and has not lived up to his massive $153 million contract since joining the Bronx Bombers.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that Ellsbury passed the initial concussion checks performed by head athletic trainer Steve Monahan, but looked “out of it,” and was thus removed from the game. He was also was suffering from neck pain, as part of the whiplash from crashing into the outfield fence. To make up for the loss of Ellsbury, the Yankees will likely call on Aaron Hicks to play centerfield.

That scenario may be an upgrade, as Hicks plays solid defense and, despite hitting only .217 in 2016, has swung a great bat for the Yankees so far this season, with a .291 average, eight home runs, 24 runs scored 20 RBI and a ridiculous .426 on-base percentage. That .426 mark tops his previous season high by 85 points.

To replace Ellsbury on the roster, the Yankees have brought up Rob Refsnyder, who has played well so far in Triple-A in 2017. He has appeared in 33 games with a .303 average, 18 runs scored and a .391 on-base percentage.

Unfortunately for Yankee fans clamoring for the debuts of prospect outfielders Clint Frazier or Dustin Fowler, those dreams will have to wait.  Because neither of them are on the Yankees 40-man roster, the addition of Refsnyder was an easy call to make, especially given the fact that the team would have to subtract someone from their 40-man roster once to add one of the prospects, for only what may amount to a week of Ellsbury on the sidelines.

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From a fantasy perspective, if Hicks is available in your league, snag him up immediately and play him. Given the Yankees potent offense and his hot start, his playing time, at least for the foreseeable future, is guaranteed. There is no timetable for Ellsbury to return, as every player recovers differently given their individual circumstances.