Yankees: Masahiro Tanaka returns to Japan

Masahiro Tanaka has returned to Japan amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic out of concern for both his health and his personal safety while we wait for the New York Yankees to start playing games.

With an ongoing pandemic impacting people around the globe and people across the country trying to maintain strict social distancing guidelines, it’s no surprise that there are many uncomfortable with the situation. Count Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka among them. According to a report from Japan’s Nikkan Sports (translation courtesy of Jim Allen), Tanaka has returned home to Japan.

Tanaka’s decision was not based just on keeping his family healthy from the virus, however, but also to keep them safe.

Tanaka, to be clear, has relayed that he and his family are healthy.

"As has been reported, I returned to Japan at the end of March. I have no symptoms now, but even so I could be infected by someone without knowing it. And my family could, too."

His concerns about avoiding the coronavirus are legitimate and one can hardly blame him for wanting to keep his family safe. Japan, like every other country in the world, is also dealing with the pandemic but the spread of the virus there appears to be slower than it is here in the United States.

Tanaka’s concerns about their safety are also warranted, however. ABC News obtained a report from the FBI suggesting that violence towards Asian Americans has increased in recent weeks.

"The FBI assesses hate crime incidents against Asian Americans likely will surge across the United States, due to the spread of the coronavirus disease … endangering Asian American communities. The FBI makes this assessment based on the assumption that a portion of the US public will associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations."

There is nothing to suggest that Tanaka or his family were in any immediate danger, but it’s certainly understandable given the times that he would prefer to be home in Japan. The familiarity of one’s surroundings can go a long way towards being comforting in such uncertain times.

The 31-year-old right-hander went 11-9 with a 4.45 ERA last season for the Yankees. Tanaka is scheduled to become a free agent following the 2020 season.