Sharp Tanaka rounding into form for Opening Day start
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Masahiro Tanaka looks like he is ready to face the Orioles on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium.
Named to the prestigious start when staff ace Luis Severino’s right rotator cuff became inflamed and forced him to begin the season on the Injured List, Tanaka toyed with the Braves on Monday night at Champion Stadium.
In five innings he allowed a run, two hits and struck out seven in a 7-4 Yankees victory.
“He was filthy,’’ said a scout on hand, who praised Tanaka’s slider and was very impressed with his splitter.
“Overall the movement off the offspeed pitches was good,’’ said Tanaka, whose next outing on Saturday will be a shortened one. “I didn’t have the energy on the fastball in the first and second innings. The velocity came together toward the end.’’
Didi Gregorius’ return from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow took another step forward Monday.
“Two-hand swings,’’ Gregorius said of graduating from onehanded swings for the first time this spring training.
Gregorius hit off a batting tee and reported no problems with his throwing arm.
Asked when he would graduate to hitting against live pitching Gregorius said, “Not until I am ready to get on the field, two to three weeks. Batting practice first and then live pitching.’’
As for the rehab program following the surgery on Oct. 17, Gregorius has been encouraged from the beginning of the process.
“It’s been way better than expected. There have been no problems,’’ said Gregorius, who can become a free agent at the end of a season. Dellin Betances’ name was on a minor league schedule to throw at the Yankees’ complex on Monday. However, Aaron Boone said Betances said that wasn’t so.
Betances, who is lacking arm strength and averaged 89 mph with his fastball in his last outing, threw an eight-pitch inning Sunday against the Phillies.
Stud outfield prospect Estevan Florial underwent an MRI on his right wrist Monday, revealing an additional fracture, and he was examined by a hand specialist.
“He is having a cast put on today and will be on for a few weeks,’’ Boone said of Florial, who suffered a non-displaced fracture in the wrist on Saturday when he hit the center-field fence at GMS Field and fell to the ground. Boone didn’t have a timetable for Florial’s return to baseball activities.
Boone said the second fracture wasn’t a big deal.
“In the grand scheme of things it is inconsequential because it’s very similar [to the original fracture],’’ Boone said. “From the prognosis it is very similar.’’
With Troy Tulowitzki not making Monday night’s trip he took extra ground balls with Greg Bird during a workout at GMS Field in Tampa. In a dozen major league seasons the fivetime All Star has played in 1,264 games at short and started 1,251 of them. He has appeared as the DH in four games, all starts.