Yankees News: Masahiro Tanaka Set to Make First Rehab Start

With the news of Jacoby Ellsbury heading to the 15 day DL, the New York Yankees will want Masahiro Tanaka back in the Bronx as quickly as possible, but first, he’ll have to settle for a rehab start this Thursday at Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre when the RailRiders take on the Durham Bulls.

Tanaka eased his way through a 29 pitch bullpen session this Monday with no setbacks, and according to George King III of the New York Post, Thursday’s rehab start will be limited to 45-pitches or three innings.

"“I’m very much looking forward to it,” Tanaka told King through his translator prior to Monday’s game when the Yankees faced the Nationals Tuesday at Nationals Park. “I should be OK.”"

The Yankees will be counting on their fallen ace to be more than just OK, as they’ll need him to help right the ship on a team that’s lost two straight series’ and dropped another series opener to the Nationals on Tuesday night.

Skipper Joe Girardi refused to lay out a timetable on Tanaka’s potential return to the starting rotation, but it’s safe to assume that the right-hander will need at least three to four rehab starts in order to build his arm  strength back up before he’s ready to rejoin the major league roster.

"“We’ll take it start by start,” Girardi said. “He’s going in the right direction.”"

Stay tuned to Yanks Go Yard as we’ll break down his rehab start on Thursday night!

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