Yankees GM Brian Cashman confirmed earlier reports that bench coach Carlos Mendoza will take over Aaron Boone‘s managerial duties while the skipper is on medical leave to receiver a pacemaker.
Mendoza led a meeting on Wednesday with players to give them the news about Boone, who Cashman said also prepared a video message from the hospital prior to his surgery for his players.
Mendoza replaced Josh Bard as Yankees’ bench coach following the 2019 campaign, and has been Boone’s second-in-command since the start of 2020.
The understanding of Cashman and the Yankees is that Boone won’t be gone for long, but there is no rush to get him back into spring training camp. Mendoza will well-equipped with the rest of the coaching staff to hold down the fort while Boone focuses on his health first and foremost.