Yankees' Corey Kluber could begin throwing program soon, still expected to miss two months

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone offered some good news regarding starting pitcher and two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber shortly before Thursday afternoon's home matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays. 

According to Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Boone said that Kluber could begin a recovery throwing program much sooner than expected as he works to return from the sub-scapular strain in his throwing shoulder that he suffered on May 25, just one start after he tossed a no-hitter versus his club from the previous season, the Texas Rangers.

"I would say there’s some optimism," Boone explained about Kluber getting back to throwing sooner than the original four-week timeline. "He’ll probably start a flat-ground program probably in the next few days. But I’ll probably have more when he gets here and we sit down and meet and start to map out a plan." 

However, Boone was also sure to note that Kluber is still set to be out of the rotation for roughly eight weeks. 

Understandably, the Yankees won't rush Kluber back to the bump for meaningful action. A Grade 2 tear of the teres major muscle in that same shoulder sidelined him last year after only one inning of regular-season work, and his last MLB appearance before that occurred in May 2019.