New York Yankees Recap: CC Sabathia Makes Spring Debut

The New York Yankees were on the road for their seventh Spring training game against the Miami Marlins.

CC Sabathia would make his debut at Rogers Dean Stadium for the Yankees. Of course CC went through the issues at the end of last season checking himself into rehab for alcohol abuse. After the season ended not much was heard from him and it’d be a lingering question (along with others) as to how he’d start this new season and year. CC had a spectacular second half of the 2015 season and the Yankees are looking for him to get back to that this next season.

Even if it’s just a Spring Training game, CC definitely got things going quickly. He’d pitch two innings, giving up no hits and striking out two with one walk (16 pitches). It’s only March 8th, but this is what you want to see from CC this early. If he keeps his confidence going throughout the Spring it could really help him come April.

CC wasn’t the only Yankees pitcher who would have a strong outing today. Luis Cessa, the soon-to-be-24 year-old who was part of the Justin Wilson trade with the Detroit Tigers, had two hitless innings as well. In four innings this Spring he has allowed no runs. Should he keep this up it’ll definitely be noted by the Yankees organization. Cessa has been part of not only the Wilson trade, but the Mets’ Yoenis Cespedes swap with the Tigers at last years trade deadline. After two trades in six months, hopefully starting an off-season with one team will help him continue his progress, as he is noted as a future back-of-the-bullpen starter.

As Tyler Olsen and Kirby Yates both threw an inning of hitless baseball, the Yanks’ hitting wasn’t there to support. Aaron Hicks went 2-3 and continues to have an acceptable Spring and Rob Refsnyder went 1-2 with a double and walk as he played second today. However, runners couldn’t be brought in.

In the bottom of the seventh the game would take a turn as Nick Rumbelow came in and gave up the first hit to Chris Johnson which led to the Marlins taking the lead. Chasen Shreve had another good inning for the Yankees, which is a good takeaway, but they would go on to lose 1-0.

The box would look funky on this game as the Yankees tacked on five hits with no runs, and the Marlins two hits with one run, but hey, that’s Spring Baseball for ya!

Next: Yankees Prospect Profile: No. 25 Jeff Degano

Tomorrow the Yankees take on the Mets at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie. Ivan Nova will make his second Spring start against Jacob deGrom. Hopefully the bats can wake up and Nova can get a strong outing as he looks to have a very strong Spring and solidify himself in the starting rotation.