NEW YORK -- New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia announced this would be his final season back during spring training, and his career may have come to an end Thursday night. He exited the Game 4 of the ALCS against the Astros with an injury.
Sabathia faced four batters and threw 20 pitches in the eighth inning before the trainer came out to check on him. His final two fastballs were clocked in the mid-80s, which is low even at this point of his career. Sabathia threw a test pitch, then left the field.
Following the game Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Sabathia exited with a shoulder injury. He has been dealing with a degenerative knee condition for years now, but he was also left the ALDS roster with a shoulder problem. The Yankees did not announce the nature or severity of the injury.
"We've got to see more about it," Boone said. "Not good with the shoulder."
New York can replace Sabathia on their ALCS roster and, by rule, he must miss the next round should the Yankees advance. He can only be replaced on the roster by a pitcher. Boone confirmed a roster move will likely be made before Game 5.
Sabathia, 39, owns a career 251-161 record with a 3.74 ERA in over 3,500 innings. He won a Cy Young in 2007 and was the ace of the 2009 World Series champion Yankees. Sabathia, who hit the 3,000-strikeout plateau during the 2019 season, will have a case for enshrinement in Cooperstown when he gets on the Hall of Fame ballot.
"That's a warrior right there," Aaron Judge said. "That's our leader, man. He gave it all that he had."
