The chances of New York Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka returning this season have taken a step backwards. Tanaka complained to the Yankees about soreness in his right arm and will return to New York Saturday to begin a strengthening program.
Tanaka threw 49 pitches in a simulated game in Detroit on Thursday. Tanaka said that he felt "normal soreness" that pitchers feel after pitching, but felt more soreness the next day forcing the Yankees to shut him down. Tanaka and the Yankees say there is no pain in his right elbow which suffered a small ligament tear in July. Tanaka is trying to come back from that injury without having to have Tommy John Surgery.
"It's not the elbow, it's the whole arm", Tanaka said of the soreness. "It's not pain. I feel i want to strengthen up."
Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said that Tanaka will return to New York two days ahead of the team. Girardi also said he doesn't know what the chances are of Tanaka pitching again this season, but he wants him to pitch again this year. Girardi also added that he will have a better idea of Tanaka's return when he sees him get into competition.
"We are sending him back because he wants to work out at [Yankee Stadium]," Girardi Said. "It's just a better facility to work at because you have a better gym and you have a rehab guy who's back there who works for us."
Tanaka will work with Michael Shuck who has worked with CC Sabathia, David Phelps, and Michael Pineda. According to Joe Girardi, team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad will examine Tanaka on Tuesday. Even though the soreness isn't on Tanaka's elbow, this will at the very least set back Tanaka's next simulated game. Girardi said it might be at least one more week before Tanaka throws another bullpen session. Some believe that at this point it would just be better to shut Tanaka down for the rest of the season.
"If you shut him down it's surgery," Girardi said. "It's not like it's going to be, 'Let's wait and see how it is next year.' It's either he is healthy or he needs surgery."