Masahiro Tanaka's first rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre went well, but now the New York Yankees may have a bit to worry about after his second outing. He may not be ready for MLB action just yet.
Tanaka was tagged for three earned runs on four hits and two walks over three innings on Wednesday. The right-hander made it clear his arm is "absolutely fine" and that his forearm and elbow are pain-free. He showed that in his first rehab start with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when he threw three scoreless frames.
However, even though he faced perhaps the most talented Triple-A club (Pawtucket, the Boston Red Sox affiliate) in the minor leagues, his second rehab outing did not instill confident in the Yankees.
"It's uncertain where Tanaka will pitch next. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he will sit down with general manager Brian Cashman and other Yankees decision-makers before deciding whether he will return to the Yankees or make another rehab start. Tanaka said he is open to whatever move the team decides is in his best interest," writes Zach Braziller of the New York Post.
New York certainly wants to be cautious with their $175 million investment. Tanaka hit the disabled list in late April because of tendinitis in his right wrist and a mild strain in his right forearm, which were his latest injuries since suffering a partially torn UCL last July. He's avoided Tommy John surgery thus far and has managed to maintain the same velocity on his fastball and utilize the rest of his pitches successfully.
"We've got to see what we feel is the right thing to do," Girardi told Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News.
It was initially believed Tanaka would be out until the first week of June. Even though there are rumblings about the Yankees being concerned about Tanaka's performance as of right now and rumors that he may not be back when expected, these rehab starts could be treated as some sort of trial and error for the 26-year-old.
"He looked like a guy who was trying to get strikes, he was trying to fill up the zone and get his pitch count up," Pawtucket outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. said. "I thought his fastball was right there. He was 89-92 [when I faced him], that's where his fastball usually is."
Tanaka did use all of his pitches in his first two rehab starts and actually used off-speed pitches to get all four of his strikeouts yesterday, but we'll have to wait and see what the Yankees decide to do with him this week.
Prior to this week's series against the Royals, the Yankees lost 10 of 11 games and dropped to 22-22, but managed to sweep their three-game set against Kansas City and are now in sole possession of first place in the AL East.
Nonetheless, their starting rotation still needs some help (it ranks 18th in the MLB with a 4.22 ERA) and Tanaka is missing piece right now.
