NEW YORK Just under one month ago, Masahiro Tanaka was laying motionle s on the mound at Yankee Stadium, his arms covering his face as he clutched above the brim of his cap.The right-hander had taken a off the right of his head, a comebacker so scary that On Saturday, Tanaka returned to the
Albert Almora Jr Jersey very spot he was struck, standing tall as he made his regular-season debut in a 5-2 victory against the Boston Red Sox."Really good to be back on the mound again," Tanaka through the Yankees' interpreter after his short but promising start. "Right now, after my outing, I'm feeling good. All in all I think everything went well."Tanaka toed the slab for 2 2/3 innings, striking out three while allowing four base hits and two runs. His biggest mistake of the night came on the final pitch of his outing a ringing double from shortstop Xander Bogaerts off the right-center field wall that plated two."I wasnt happy with my command," Tanaka said. "Its been since Spring Training where Ive been in a competitive game, so I think there was some rust there. I kind of felt it when I was throwing my bullpen. Really didnt have the good command, the pinpoint command that you want."In normal circumstances, perhaps Boone would have been discouraged by the runs scored
Jason Heyward Jersey and Tanaka's overall performance. Considering how far he's come in the last four weeks, however, puts his outing into perspective.Just one day after Tanaka's injury on July 4, Boone recognized that the hurler had and was fortunate to walk away with nothing more than a mild
Drew Smyly Jersey concu sion. Since then, his ability to ascend through his recovery both physically and mentally was an accomplishment in its own right."I thought it was really good," he said. "The power was there with the fastball. Thats as good a velocity weve seen on his fastball really over the last couple of years."Scroll to ContinueOf Tanaka's 51 pitches thrown on Saturday of which 32 were strikes the Japanese star threw 31 heaters, averaging 92.9 mph. Last season, per Statcast, Tanaka averaged just 91.5 mph on his fastball.Tanakahad thrown in a before facing hitters five days ago at the club's alternate training site. Pitching in a game that actually counts, however, is another story. In the starter's eyes, that's where the velocity boost came from."I think its more the excitement and adrenaline of getting back into game action," he explained. "That naturally brought the velocity up."Even if he didn't make it out of the third frame, Tanaka's teammates were glowing after the game when asked about the right-hander's return to the starting staff."Hes been a staple here for six years," outfielder Mike Tauchman, who had three hits on Saturday, said. "The preparation, the effort, the consistency, when he takes the ball. I know hes still gotta build up his pitch count but we expect him to pitch deep into games. He looked great tonight after what happened coming out
Kyle Schwarber Jersey throwing a lot of strikes. So, its great to have him back."Gio Urshela, who supported Tanaka with his first career grand slam in the bottom of
Duane Underwood Jr. Jersey the second, said he always enjoys seeing No. 19 on the mound and is eager to try and get him back in the win column in his next outing.His manager agreed. Adding Tanaka back to the Bombers' star-studded rotation, with ace Gerrit Cole, puts New York in an even better position moving forward."You're getting a front line starting pitcher to the mix," Boone explained. "Hes just another piece that helps round out and complete our team because once he gets built up, hes a guy that can get us through the middle innings and sometimes deep into games. Any time you get a really good big-league starter back in your rotation, those guys get paid a lot of money because theyre really good and are difference makers."
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