Yankees Reliever David Hale Has Setback on Entirely Different Body Part During Back Rehab

In case Yankee fans were excited to get one of their key relief bridge arms back from his mysterious back ailment, we have tough news for you.

David Hale, a Swiss Army Knife who'd found his niche in the Bronx this summer, has been rehabbing for over a month now, and has hurt his knee in the process, per Aaron Boone.

David Hale has a knee issue pop up during his back rehab, Boone said. Needed a cortisone shot in the knee.
— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) August 22, 2019

The 31-year-old Hale struggles to pile up the strikeouts (just 22 in 37.1 innings pitched), but he perfectly served as a bridge to the higher-paid members of the Yankee bullpen earlier in the season. Now, those innings are occupied by Nestor Cortes Jr., Jonathan Loaisiga, and Luis Cessa, to ill effect.

It's unfortunate that Hale's rehab has now joined Giancarlo Stanton's among Yankee Gibberish Lore. Stanton, of course, simply had "some stuff" wrong with his body for months on end. Hale, on the other hand, shredded his own knee while rehabbing an ominous-sounding back issue.

David Hale, who was placed on the injured list on July 31 with a back injury, had a knee issue pop up during his rehab. He needed a cortisone shot in his knee, Aaron Boone said. #Yankees
— Bronx Bombers News (@NewsBronx) August 22, 2019

So it goes. Next man up.