Yankees News: Masahiro Tanaka Set to Make First Start of the Spring

Mark your calendars Yankee fans!

Masahiro Tanaka will make his highly anticipated first start of the spring when the New York Yankees take on the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field under the lights at 7:05pm this coming Thursday.

As you all know, the Yankees have taken a slow and steady approach to the rehabilitation of Tanaka and their other two injury riddled starters, C.C. Sabathia (knee) and Michael Pineda (shoulder). Pineda just made his first start of the spring yesterday.

Tanaka, 26, is trying to avoid Tommy John surgery on his right UCL. He partially tore the ligament and missed more than two months while trying to rehab it with a strengthening program rather than electing to go with the surgery, which would have sidelined him for between 12-18 months.

So far this spring Tanaka hasn’t reported any soreness in his elbow. The Yankees need a fully recovered Masahiro Tanaka in the worst way. In his rookie season, his name was being tossed around in the Cy Young picture, as he was 13-5 with a 2.77 ERA prior to being injured. If Tanaka eventually needs the surgery, the Yankees will be left without their ace.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best Yankee fans!

Yankees News: Masahiro Tanaka Set to Make First Start of the Spring

More from Yanks Go Yard

More from Yanks Go Yard

Schedule