Yankees lament losing Didi Gregorius for first month of season

TAMPA – The New York Yankees won’t have their starting shortstop for the first month of the season and manager Joe Girardi is none too happy with the World Baseball Classic.

But Didi Gregorius would sign up to play again in a heartbeat.

Girardi revealed Tuesday that Gregorius, who injured his throwing shoulder playing second base for the Netherlands on Saturday, won’t engage in baseball activity for two weeks and will miss the early part of the season. General manager Brian Cashman later added that a return to the lineup will probably take around six weeks, keeping Gregorius out of action until May.

An MRI exam showed Gregorius, who played in 153 games last season, has a subscapular strain in the shoulder, but no ligament tear. After the time away from the diamond, he will have to rebuild arm strength through a throwing program and probably go on a minor-league rehab assignment.

Girardi pointed out Gregorius sustained the injury making a throw from second base, which requires a different motion than throwing from shortstop. Two-time Gold Glover Andrelton Simmons played shortstop for the Netherlands.

“Those are some of the concerns you have when players go to the WBC. We always worry about the injury factor,’’ Girardi said. “And I know it’s important to the game, but he’s really important to our team, so it’s a concern.’’

Gregorius enjoyed a breakout season in 2016, his second year with the Yankees, batting .276 with 20 homers and 70 RBI while playing above-average defense.

He hit .348 with eight RBI in six games to help the Netherlands reach the WBC semifinals, but he was sidelined Monday as his team was eliminated in a 4-3, 11-inning loss to Puerto Rico.

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Though upset about the injury, Gregorius pointed out he could have gotten hurt in other settings and had a positive experience in the tournament.

“I’m not going to blame it on the WBC,’’ Gregorius said. “I’m representing my country and I’m having fun with the guys I’ve played with since we were like 6 years old, so there’s no regrets.’’

Gregorius’ injury creates a big void that may be filled by Ronald Torreyes, a backup at three infield positions last year, or possibly prospect Tyler Wade. Moving second baseman Starlin Castro to shortstop, his original position, is an option as well, and Ruben Tejada will also be in the mix.

However, Cashman said top prospect Gleyber Torres is not under consideration. The highly touted Venezuelan, acquired in the July trade that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs, is only 20 and requires more seasoning in the minors.

Torres is hitting .464 in 28 spring at-bats and won MVP honors in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .403 with a 1.158 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 18 games. However, he has never played above Class A.

“Gleyber Torres will not be considered for that position, despite how great he’s looked and how his Fall League went and how his first major-league camp has gone,’’ Cashman said. “That’s all tremendous, but he’s scheduled to go to Double-A Trenton.’’