NEW YORK - The New York Yankees have activated shortstop Didi Gregorius from the 10-day disabled list, the team announced prior to Friday's series opener against Baltimore. To make room for Gregorius on the 25-man roster, infielder Pete Kozma was designated for assignment.
Gregorius has not played for the Yankees this season after suffering a strained subscapularis muscle in his shoulder during the World Baseball Classic in March. He began a rehab assignment in Tampa last Friday and went 8-for-18 (.444) with one home run and two RBI in five games, the last one on Wednesday marking the first time he played a full nine innings at shortstop.
Prior to the injury, Didi hit .385 with one homer and eight RBI in six WBC games for the Netherlands, and he is coming off a 2016 season that saw him hit .276 with 20 home runs and 70 RBI in 153 games for the Yankees.
Ronald Torreyes has been the Yankees' primary shortstop in Gregorius' absence, and he enters Friday hitting .308 with one homer and 13 RBI in 19 games.
Kozma, 29, returned to the Yankees on a minor-league deal this season after spending all of last year with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was selected to the major-league roster on Opening Day and appeared in 11 games, going 1-for-9 (.111) with a walk in 10 plate appearances.
The Yankees now have seven days to trade Kozma, release him, or outright him to the Minors, and his departure also opens a spot on the 40-man roster as well.
