Josh Donaldson hasn’t suited up in his New York Yankees pinstripes in nearly two weeks, as he was first battling COVID-19 and then struggling with a shoulder injury. The 2015 AL MVP will be making his way back into the lineup on Friday as the Yankees open up a home series against the Detroit Tigers.
The first-year “Bronx Bomber” is off to a .238/.349/.415 start with five home runs and 15 RBIs through 130 at-bats in 37 games. Donaldson was making most of his headlines in May for a contentious reason surrounding Chicago White Sox All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson though.
During a game between Chicago and New York on May 21, benches cleared after Donaldson made an alleged “racist comment” towards Anderson. It was soon discovered that the third baseman called Anderson “Jackie,” referring to former Brooklyn Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson (who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947).
Donaldson later claimed that he had no ill-intent with the comment and in fact, it was a comment he had used to talk with the White Sox star in the past after Anderson referred to himself as “today’s Jackie Robinson” during an interview in 2019. Donaldson was served a one-game suspension for the comment and released a statement on the situation last week.
