Manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Berti was left off the Yankees' World Series roster due to a right hip flexor injury, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
The Yankees skipper noted that Berti's injury occurred while he was running the bases in Game 4 of the ALCS, and he would have been part of the roster had he not gotten hurt. Because of the utility man's absence, Nestor Cortes (elbow) will rejoin New York's roster to provide additional pitching depth for the World Series.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Absent from World Series roster
Rotowire
Berti is not on the Yankees' World Series roster.
Berti has made three starts at first base against lefties this postseason, but the Yankees have elected to carry Nestor Cortes (elbow) on their World Series roster instead. With Berti off the roster, the Yankees will either start Anthony Rizzo or Oswaldo Cabrera at first base versus left-handers.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Back at first base for Game 4
Rotowire
Berti is starting at first base and batting ninth Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS in Kansas City, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
Berti received his first professional start at first base in Game 2 and will be back there in Game 4 as the Yankees try to close out the series. Oswaldo Cabrera -- who started Games 1 and 3 at first base -- will begin this contest on the bench.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Starting at first base in Game 2
Rotowire
Berti is starting at first base and batting ninth Monday in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Royals.
The 34-year-old Berti has never played first base before in the majors or minors, but he's been working out at the position in recent days and the Yankees feel comfortable enough with how he's looked there to throw him into the fire. Oswaldo Cabrera -- who started at first base in Game 1 and went 1-for-4 with a double and three strikeouts -- will begin the contest on the bench.
Yankees' Jon Berti: Swipes bag, reaches three times
Rotowire
Berti went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's win over Oakland. He was also hit by a pitch.
Berti singled in his second trip to the plate before eventually stealing third as part of a double steal with Anthony Volpe. The infielder would go on to reach three times in the contest after also being hit by a pitch in the eighth, showing that he can be a solid contributor for the Yankees in his first start since May 24. It marked Berti's fourth multi-hit performance this season, while the stolen base was his fifth on the campaign.
The Yankees reinstated Berti (calf) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Berti is back with the Yankees for the first time since late May after completing a lengthy recovery from a left calf strain. Prior to being activated, Berti was sent out on an extended rehab assignment, during which he slashed .342/.422/.526 with two home runs and five walks over 12 games. Though Berti looks to be dialed in at the plate, he'll have to settle for a utility role with the Yankees and may not be guaranteed much more than the occasional start against left-handed pitching.
Berti (calf) will continue his rehab stint through the weekend and "a handful of days" into next week according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
The Yankees can add two players when rosters expand Sunday, but Berti won't be one of them. The utility man has been rehabbing with Double-A Somerset since Aug. 24 and has gone 2-for-12 with a home run, three RBI and a 2:4 BB:K through five contests. It's unclear if New York believes Berti needs more games in the minors to ramp up or if the team has simply elected to go in another direction with its roster expansion, but it appears the 34-year-old won't be back with the big club until at least the end of next week.
