MLB: Farquhar makes progress in simulated game for Yankees
TAMPA, FLA.— Danny Farquhar took another big step in his comeback, and his family was in the stands to see it.
Farquhar struck out two and walked one during a scoreless inning Sunday in his first simulated game for the New York Yankees since collapsing in the Chicago White Sox dugout last April 20.
The right-hander was diagnosed with a ruptured aneurysm and brain hemorrhage, and had surgery the next day. He was hospitalized until May 7.
“Extraordinarily successful being the fact that I wasn’t thinking about anything besides striking everybody out,” Farquhar said. “I wasn’t thinking about my helmet hat, I wasn’t thinking about anything else. My focus was what it’s been in the past. Just create swings and misses.”
Farquhar, 32, is using a specially designed protective cap which includes Kevlar and foam.
His wife, Lexie, and three children took in the game from the third-base side of an empty Steinbrenner Field.
“I saw them while I was warming up,” Farquhar said. “We talked about it. I told them I wanted them to be in the stands. Just to see my family, my kids so happy and just enjoying themselves, it gives me that extra boost of energy.”
Farquhar struck out and walked Gio Urshela, and got a strikeout and fly against Francisco Diaz. All the outs came on 1-2 pitches. He threw 12 of 19 pitches for strikes.
“Super encouraging to actually have batters with lots of coaches around that aren’t trying to swing and miss just to bolster my confidence,” Farquhar said. “They’re trying to impress coaches for their careers, too.”
Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Farquhar will have another simulated game later this week.
“The attitude he has about everything ... I think it’s good for everybody to see,” Rothschild said. “It’s kind of special.”