TORONTO – Jameson Taillon’s return to the Yankees rotation lasted only seven outs.
The right-hander exited his start against the Blue Jays in the third inning on Tuesday at Rogers Centre. He had been on the injured list with a partially torn tendon in his right ankle.
Taillon’s final pitch of the evening was a 94.8 mph fastball to strike out Toronto catcher Danny Jansen. Taillon grimaced as he made a short walk around the mound, then gestured toward the Yankees bench and appeared to indicate the ankle was the issue.
The ankle injury sent Taillon to the injured list Sept. 7. He missed 19 team games before returning on Tuesday, having made a pair of Minor League rehabilitation starts to prepare.
Injuries have been a recurring theme for the 29-year-old Taillon, once a first-round Draft selection by the Pirates. Taillon missed most of 2019 and all of 2020 while recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in August 2019.
If Taillon is unable to continue pitching this season, a potential Yankees postseason rotation could feature Gerrit Cole, Corey Kluber, Jordan Montgomery and Nestor Cortes.