Watch Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka throw his first bullpen since going on the disabled list with two strained hamstrings.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Masahiro Tanaka couldn’t believe it. Most people couldn’t, either.
Two strained hamstrings? At the same time? On the same sprint? How does that happen?
“In a sense, I was a little bit shocked, too,” Tanaka said via his translator before the Yankees faced the Rays at Tropicana Field on Sunday.
Tanaka had just thrown 26 pitches in his first bullpen session since his wacky injury vs. the Mets at Citi Field on June 8.
Tanaka strained both hamstrings sprinting from third base to home on Aaron Judge’s sacrifice fly. Tanaka scored, but was in visible pain after the play and was immediately pulled from the game.
He was put on the disabled list the next day. Jonathan Loaisiga was promoted from Double-A Trenton to take Tanaka’s place in the rotatino.
Tanaka was optimistic following his bullpen. He threw fastballs and breaking balls to bullpen catcher Radley Haddad as pitching coach Larry Rothschild and trainer Steve Donohue watched.
“It was my first bullpen since I hurt myself so I was being kind of a little bit cautious a little bit about it on the mound. But it turned out that I didn’t feel anything,” Tanaka said when asked if he still felt pain in his hamstrings.
When will he return from the DL?
“Nothing definitive at this point,” Tanaka said. “I think we’ll talk with trainers and the manager and see how we want to progress with it. No specific day. “
Tanaka is 7-2 with a 4.58 ERA in 13 starts. The 29-year-old has another two years and $45 million remaining on his contract.
Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.
-
Men’s New Era Black New York Yankees Tone Foam Meshback Golfer Snapback Hat
$36.99 Buy Now -
Men’s Columbia Navy New York Yankees Cooperstown Collection Omni-Wick Club Invite Polo
$92.99 Buy Now -
Highland Mint New York Yankees 12″ x 20″ World Series Championships Legacy Supreme Photomint
$99.99 Buy Now -
Women’s Antigua Navy New York Yankees Legacy Pique Polo
$69.99 Buy Now -
Men’s Fanatics Navy/White New York Yankees Cooperstown Collection Talley Foam Trucker Snapback Hat
$29.99 Buy Now -
New York Yankees 17.5″ Modern Disc Wall Clock
$74.99 Buy Now -
New York Yankees Personalized Insulated Bag
$60.00 Buy Now -
Men’s Antigua Navy New York Yankees Tonal Logo Resort Button-Up Shirt
$94.99 Buy Now