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Yankees News: Masahiro Tanaka Throws First Bullpen Session

By Antonio Mendes

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After avoiding Tommy John Surgery in the off-season, Masahiro Tanaka and his right arm are being put under a microscope. Tanaka has arrived in Tampa and has started workouts to get ready for spring training. In his first workout of the year, he threw a long ball session for approximately 35 minutes in the New York Yankees minor league complex. Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Tanaka looked fluent, and had no problems this winter heading into camp.

In Tanaka’s 2 games back from the injury to end the 2014 season he went 1-1. The first game was against the Blue Jays, 5.1 IP, 5 hits 1 ER, and 70 pitches. The next and last game was against the Red Sox, which didn’t go well at all. Though he gave up 5 ER, it didnt appear as if the elbow was the reason. Tanaka was known for getting off to slow starts in most of his games last year, I believe that game he just couldn’t get into any groove. With no indication of further injury those two starts, and positive feedback this winter, it’s giving the organization a much better feeling going into spring training.

So with workouts finally starting how are the Yankees going to handle Tanaka’s work load? All could be well, but I’m sure they aren’t going to take a chance on over-working him just during spring training. Everything he does is going to be watched as if he’s a child (a child worth $155 million dollars). Workouts are always kept on a number, but I’d imagine he’s going to be eased in before March 3rd when they start actual games against other clubs. There’s absolutely no rush into this, so no matter what he’s going to be handled cautiously.

Rothschild has told reporters every step they take is going to be with what his arm shows. Today Tanaka took part in his first bullpen session. He threw an unofficial 21 pitches off the mound, not with full effort but still looked comfortable. He threw fastballs and mixed in some breaking balls as well. Before that he threw a light warm up and also looked pain free throughout the day. Bullpen sessions are always slim in numbers at the very start of workouts. What everyone wants to know is how they’ll work him as we get further into the week. Look for numbers to rise very slowly but surely the next two weeks.

Tanaka should be ready for this season. He got off to an 11-2 start last year, before the injury. Many are considering his arm a “ticking time bomb”, but I don’t believe this bomb is going to go off if the Yankees handle him the right way. They need to just start him off slow, not only through spring training but for the start of the season, possibly including a minor innings restriction. While I think he will have a strong season, I still think being as cautious as possible isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Yankees are also fortunate that the bullpen is so strong this year.

What do you think the Yankees will do this season to prepare Tanaka? Should he be kept under some restriction, or if he shows promise in this spring training let him fire free?

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