The New York Yankees and their fans got a bit of good news today. Their phenom rookie pitcher, Masahiro Tanaka, was recently shut down while rehabbing from a tear in his elbow ligament. While deciding the rehab route instead of the dreaded Tommy John surgery, the setback isn’t what the Yankees wanted to see. He has now been cleared to resume throwing.
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New York is currently 9.5 games back in the AL East and 4 games back in the American League wild card race. The offense has sputtered and the pitching performances have gone downhill. While Tanaka has no set date to return to the rotation, the latest development is encouraging.
The Yankees recently announced that Tanaka will throw a bullpen on Saturday, his next step in his rehabilitation process.
While Tommy John has no become the standard procedure for elbow ligament tears, the Yankees are hoping that rest and rehabilitation will get the job done for Tanaka.
As they sit currently, the Yankees may be looking at an uphill battle. With too many aging bodies on their roster, and a payroll that doesn’t support the current output, this season may have already passed them.
With that thought process in mind, the Yankees will definitely take heed in terms of rushing Tanaka back from injury. He only pitches once every five days, and although he would be an immediate boost to the rotation, he does not guarantee a playoff spot on his own.
The Yankees will likely have more decisions to make following Tanaka’s bullpen on Saturday.