At first, the oblique strain that New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury has appeared mild enough that he would miss only two to three days of action this week. The next indication showed that he would have to sit out the rest of this week and most of next week. Now, it appears that Ellsbury could sit out the remainder of the Yankees' Spring Training games.

Ellsbury last played Monday. He sat out Tuesday because of soreness in his abdominal area. The Yankees sent him for an MRI Wednesday, which revealed the strain. At first, as MLB.com's Paul Casella noted, the strain appeared mild. In fact, Casella quoted Yankees manager Joe Girardi initially calling the injury "mild, mild, mild, mild" and indicating that Ellsbury would play again by the end of this week.

However, the MRI showed the strain is more serious than originally expected. The Yankees have decided to shut the center fielder down for at least one full week before performing further evaluation on him. At this point, he will have to wait until at least Friday, March 27, to see action again, and the strain could cause him to miss the remainder of Spring Training. 

Girardi indicated the shutdown is precautionary since the regular season has not started yet. The timing gives him, Ellsbury, and the Yankees flexibility in allowing the center fielder to rest and fully recover before playing in any more games. Said Girardi,

"Six, seven days we'll give him off and see where he's at. I'm not really concerned about it, because it's really mild. This is the time of year we can protect him a little bit, don't have to rush him back.... I thought he was in a pretty good place, as far as being in shape and playing multiple days. There'll be plenty of time for him."

Ellsbury has had many issues with his legs, hips, ankles, and feet dating back to 2013 while still with the Boston Red Sox, but this is his first problem with the oblique. He has had a myriad of other ailments in his career as well. Still, he played in 149 games for the Yankees last season and complied a line of .271/.328/.419 with 16 HR, 70 RBI, 71 R, and 39 SB as mainly the Yankees' lead-off hitter. 

Casella says Ellsbury will "now be sidelined for at least one of the final 2 1/2 weeks of Spring Training." Giradi, though, expects to have Ellsbury in center field and at the top of his batting order come Opening Day, April 6, when the Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays.