New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar is headed back to the 10-day injured list with a right labrum tear, the team announced Monday.
Andujar missed more than a month because of a small labrum tear in his right shoulder before returning from the IL last week. He has been mired in a 3-for-34 hitting slump since his return, which prompted the Yankees to send him for more tests on his shoulder.
Andujar has been trying to avoid surgery, but manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Monday that it's not "necessarily off the table."
"We've got to get a better handle on this and then probably just get him built up in the best way possible, if we can move forward with that," Boone said.
Andujar batted .297 with 27 homers and 92 RBIs last season, when he was runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year. He had 47 doubles and an .855 OPS.
Andujar's return to the IL comes hours after the injury-plagued Yankees activated center fielder Aaron Hicks off the injured list.
He was set to bat leadoff in his season debut against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night, but the game was postponed because of rain and wet field conditions. It will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader beginning Wednesday afternoon.
Hicks had been sidelined with a back injury since March 1.
"It feels good to finally be back with the team and playing again,'' Hicks said.
The Yankees also scratched right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga, the rotation replacement for the injured James Paxton, from his scheduled start Monday against Baltimore and placed him on the IL with a strained shoulder.
"Hopefully, we avoid something serious,'' Boone said. "Lo's an important part of what we're doing in there. He's had some important outings for us. So it's a blow to us but one that we definitely feel like we can absorb and hopefully get him the right treatment and have him get back in the fold at some point this season.''
Luis Cessa was slated to replace Loaisiga as Monday's starter before the game was postponed.
Loaisiga is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance. He gave up four runs over four innings in a loss to Seattle last week.
To replenish their pitching staff, the Yankees recalled right-hander Chance Adams and lefty Nestor Cortes Jr. from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The team opened a spot for Hicks by optioning outfielder Mike Tauchman to the RailRiders following Sunday's victory at Tampa Bay.
Paxton, sidelined since May 4 with left knee inflammation, was scheduled to play long toss and throw on flat ground Monday. If that goes well, it will lead to a bullpen session. The Yankees hope Paxton will be able to return to the rotation before too long.
Because of a day off Thursday, they might not need to fill his spot again until May 21 in Baltimore. Adams could be a possibility, if Paxton isn't ready by then.
"You could see a lot of different options in that role,'' Boone said. "I mean, we could go an opener on a day. Hopefully, Pax is back pretty quick. We feel like he's moving in the right direction, but we'll just kind of see. That could truly be something that's very fluid as far as what the day or two days leading up to that spot, how we play it out.''
The Associated Press contributed to this report.