Yankees News: What’s Next For Masahiro Tanaka?

Masahiro Tanaka and the New York Yankees are at a crossroad in regards to what is the next step to Tanaka’s career. Tanaka currently resides with the Triple-A affiliate team in Scranton, as he looks to rejoin the major league team in the Bronx. Yankees fans should not get too excited, as the pitcher may take some more time to rejoin with the ball club.

Originally, Tanaka was placed on the disabled list with a small forearm strain and wrist tendinitis late in April. Concerns were risen due to Tanaka’s landing on the disabled list in the 2014 season due to a partially torn elbow ligament; a concern in which many thought Tommy John surgery was inevitable.

Both the Yankees and Tanaka are rolling the dice with the 26-year-old Japanese native, as he, and the organization, intend to pitch the entirety of the 2015 season with a partially torn ligament.

Prior to coming to America to pitch in the MLB, Tanaka had a luxurious career with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan. During his seven-year tenure with the Golden Eagles, Tanaka pitched a total of 1,315 innings. The innings pitched could provide some explanation to Tanaka’s brittle elbow.

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Manager Joe Girardi, the organization, and medical staff must make a definitive decision on Tanaka’s timetable for his return to the Bronx. In Tanaka’s most recent start in Scranton, he pitched poorly by allowing three runs in three innings pitched, only throwing 61 pitches against the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate team.

Ultimately, Tanaka – who impressed iconic Andy Pettitte in his latest bullpen session – could look to make an additional rehab start, rather than join the team on the west coast swing.

Although this would be justifiable thinking, Yankees clubhouse reporter, for the YES Network, Meredith Marakovits reported that Tanaka will be flying out to San Francisco and could pitch for the team in Seattle. In addition, reports have said that Girardi stated Tanaka’s upcoming start would have a pitch count at around 80.

According to ESPN’s Andrew Marchand, Girardi told him that Tanaka’s ability to join back the team is based off of what is the right thing to do. “He could be anywhere. We have to see what we think is the right thing to do.”

“We have to see what we think is the right thing to do.” -Joe Girardi

Thus far throughout the 2015 season, Tanaka is 2-1 with a 3.22 earned run average. In addition, he’s had 24 strikeouts in 22.1 innings pitched. Creating a presence towards the top of the Yankees’ pitching rotation is key for the uncertainty surrounding the rotation already.

Due to Tanaka’s injury history and the Yankees’ cautious approach, it’s more than probable that the delayed arrival of Tanaka with the major league team will be pushed back to a date in which both parties are satisfied.