Yankees' Tanaka Has 1st Bullpen Session Since Elbow Injury
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (CBSNEwYork/AP) -- New York Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session in a month since going on the disabled list with a partial tear in his right elbow.
Tanaka, 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 18 starts, pitched from the mound ahead of the Yankees' game against Tampa Bay on Saturday. It's the Japanese right-hander's first season in the major leagues.
Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Tanaka looked "fine,'' but that it's "more important how he feels tomorrow.''
Tanaka went on the disabled list on July 9 and the Yankees hope for his return next month. Tanaka said he has "no pain'' in his comeback work and manager Joe Girardi added that "everything has been positive'' so far.
Tanaka threw on level ground for 12 minutes Friday. He also took grounders for 4 minutes and made pickoff throws to first base.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories:
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report