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Yankees News: Ivan Nova Considers Alex Rodriguez a ‘Good Teammate’

By Michael Cambria

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Matt Harvey isn’t the only right-hander anticipating a return to New York this season from Tommy John surgery. While the Mets’ star pitcher continues his much anticipated comeback, New York Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova’s Tommy John surgery rehabilitation program appears to be going fine as well.

“To be honest, I feel right now like nothing happened,” Nova said Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field in sunny Tampa, Florida, where he’s been rehabbing from last April’s season-ending procedure. “I don’t feel any pain. I don’t feel any tightness. I can do motions and lifting without any problem.”

Nova recently advanced his rehabilitation process to throwing at 120 feet, which is typically the last step before getting on a mound throwing with elevation. Nova is confident that whenever he does rejoin the big league rotation, he’ll be an even more improved pitcher from the one he was before suffering the injury.

“I hope I can be better than what I was,” Nova said. “That’s the goal.”

The 28-year-old should be entering the prime of his career, but his career statistics to date have been anything but predictable to say the least. Following a strong first full season in the majors in 2011, one in which he pitched to a 16-4 record with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.331 ERA, Nova has since struggled to piece together a consistently complete year.

His ERA sky-rocketed to a 5.02 in 2012, he bounced back in 2013, going 9-6 with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.285 WHIP, and as we all know, he was shut down after only four starts in 2014 to season-ending Tommy John surgery in his pitching arm.

Out of his four starts last season, three were sub-par, and both Nova and the Yankees are hoping for better luck in 2015.

But he’ll have to remain patient.

“I know it’s not time yet,” Nova said of his anticipated return. “I’m trying not to rush. … I was joking with [pitcher Jose] Ramirez that the way I feel, I can pitch right now. But I’ve got to understand I have to take it easy.”

He’s also adjusting to life as a Yankee without captain Derek Jeter, who spent a majority of his later years arriving to camp earlier than anticipated to workout at the rehab facility with players like Nova.

“He [Jeter] always was the first one to get here and you would see that presence,” Nova said. “It’s like the year after Mariano [Rivera] retired. You looked to that locker and see David Robertson instead of Rivera. … It’s a little weird, but you get used to it.”

Nova also added that he’s looking forward to the much anticipated return of Alex Rodriguez.

“He’s a teammate and you’ve got to treat teammates with respect,” Nova said. “Personally, I’m gonna treat him the same way I’ve always treated him. He has been a good teammate to me.”

A-Rod met privately with Yankees officials at Yankees Stadium Tuesday to express his apologies for using performance-enhancing drugs while donning the pinstripe uniform.

Next: Yankees Relying Too Much On CC And Tex?

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