Yankees P Luis Cessa rehabs in Trenton, with big league return close

Yankees pitcher Luis Cessa has been out of action for two months with an oblique injury. There is good news for fans in New York, though, as the reliever-slash-spot starter is likely going to be back in the Bronx very shortly. Cessa made a rehab start in Trenton Saturday night against Erie, and breezed through four innings of work….

Yankees pitcher Luis Cessa has been out of action for two months with an oblique injury.

There is good news for fans in New York, though, as the reliever-slash-spot starter is likely going to be back in the Bronx very shortly.

Cessa made a rehab start in Trenton Saturday night against Erie, and breezed through four innings of work. He threw 46 pitches (31 for strikes), and allowed just two hits, an unearned run, and struck out four, in the 10-2 loss.

It was a welcome sight, after his first start back with Tampa on June 11, after the long layoff, did not go as well. But it is just about getting back out there on the mound, and getting back in game shape, to help the Yankees try to fend off Boston in what looks to be the best division race in a long time.

“The first start, when I threw in Clearwater, it was like a bullpen, or trying to work on something,” Cessa said. “It was the first game, and thanks to God, I worked this week, and focused on my pitches like I usually do. 

“You need the rhythm to the game. Right now, I am just trying to do the same thing I was doing before the injury. It is a little hard to get back into that rhythm, especially with the oblique injury. You use that for everything.

“I am still doing my exercises, and my rehab. The doctors say I am fine, so I started to do my normal routine. I am close to coming back. I throw my normal pitches, my normal delivery, and I am not thinking about the next pitch maybe feeling it. Thank God I feel great, and I am not feeling everything.”

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“I has been frustrating,” Cessa said. “I stay here, and watch the game on tv. I feel great, that is the good thing for me right now. I am just waiting for my opportunity again, and just try to stay healthy and do a really good job.

“I don’t know what will happen to me right now. Maybe, I need to throw one more start, because I just threw four innings. I need to be ready to start again. So maybe I will throw 100 pitches or so, one more start. I don’t know whether it is here or Scranton.”

When he does get back to New York, it will be with a vastly different pitching situation than when he first went on the 10-Day DL after his last appearance April 17. Jordan Montgomery is out long term with an elbow injury, and Masahiro Tanaka is out with two strained hamstrings.

Jonathan Loaisiga went from Trenton to New York and won his major league debut Friday night, but the return of Cessa should help the team, wherever he ends up pitching.

“Right now, I don’t have a particular spot,” Cessa said. “So I will be ready to come from the bullpen, sometimes as the long man in the bullpen, sometimes to throw one inning. 

“We have a couple of injuries in the bullpen right now, with Montgomery and Tanaka. Maybe, if I stay healthy I have the opportunity for a start. I just need to be ready. If they need a reliever, I need to be ready. If they need a starter, I need to be ready.

“You need to stay ready. Before we went into spring training, they told me, ‘We need you. We don’t know if it is to start, or to relieve, but just be ready when we call you.’ It is different for each.

“If you are preparing for a start, you have a normal routine. You play catch before the game, you stretch. In the bullpen, you are sitting there, and they say, “Cessa is up,’ and you have to throw 10 pitches in the bullpen and be ready. That is the difference.

“This is my third year in the big leagues, and the last two years I had the same thing, going back and forth between starter and reliever. So now I have a better idea of what I have to do before the game. I just have to be ready.”

Contact Sean Miller at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean