Luke Voit is out again, and this time it might be for a while.
The Yankees first baseman was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a sports hernia that might require surgery, according to Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman.
If Voit has to go under the knife, Cashman said Voit would be expected to miss at least six weeks, which would keep him out until the middle of September, if not longer.
Dr. Alexis Colvin, orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at The Mount Sinai Health System, said surgery could sideline Voit for up to 12 weeks, depending on the severity of the tear.
Dr. Colvin added Voit could also be treated with physical therapy and Cashman said an “aggressive” form of physical therapy may be an option, which would allow him to return sooner.
Cashman acknowledged this injury was likely an aftereffect of the abdominal strain Voit suffered in London against the Red Sox last month that forced him to hit the IL and miss seven games around the All-Star break.
“It’s all probably related,’’ Cashman said. “It happens. We knew there could be potential problems moving forward.”
The problems came Tuesday, when Voit was forced from a game in the fifth inning. He appeared to wince following a swing in the third inning and came out of the game two innings later.
He was replaced in the lineup Tuesday by Tyler Wade, who played third and Gio Urshela moved from third to first.
On Wednesday, the Yankees called up Breyvic Valera from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take Voit’s spot on the roster.
Edwin Encarnacion started at first against Arizona in a 7-5 win, as the Yankees gave DJ LeMahieu another day out of the starting lineup as he recovers from a tight groin that he played through on Saturday in Boston before sitting out since Sunday.
The Yankees have an off day Thursday and are optimistic LeMahieu will be able to start Friday against the Red Sox at the Stadium.
“We think the news on DJ is good,’’ Boone said. “From an infield standpoint, we’re obviously covered when he can play first. We’ll manage and we’ll be fine and hopefully it’s a shorter-term situation with Luke. But worst-case, hopefully we’ll have him back before the end of the season.”
Greg Bird is still not an option, as he remains in Tampa rehabbing from plantar fasciitis.
“I would say he’s far off,’’ Boone said of the oft-injured Bird. “Basically, he’s in the rehab phase. He got an injection a couple of weeks ago and he’s not in baseball activities.”
Even with another member of the lineup on the IL, Boone remained confident the Yankees could withstand a lengthy absence by Voit.
“Absolutely,’’ Boone said. “We’ve obviously been tested a lot this season with our depth and at every turn, it’s served us well.”
Cashman agreed.
The GM said he “kicked around” the idea of adding another bat before Wednesday’s trade deadline, but decided to go with what the Yankees already have.