Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka 'fine' after first bullpen session since injury
Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka threw off a mound on Saturday for the first time since suffering a partial ligament tear in his right elbow, and he felt "fine" afterward, Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild told reporters.
Tanaka threw 25 pitches, all fastballs, at Tropicana Field before the Yankees' game against the Rays. He last threw off a mound on July 8, when he allowed a career-high five runs in a loss to the Indians. He went on the disabled list the next day.
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An MRI on Tanaka's elbow revealed a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, an injury that is usually fixed with Tommy John surgery. But he is hoping to rehab the elbow in hopes of coming back this season.
The 25-year-old, who signed a seven-year, $155 million deal with the Yankees this offseason, was 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 18 starts before the injury. He had 135 strikeouts in 129 1/3 innings.
- Chris Mascaro
