The NY Yankees are hopeful pitcher Masahiro Tanaka can return to the first-place team soon following his wrist injury and he threw for the first time on Thursday since dealing with the arm issue and made 50 throws from flat ground and that could be the first step as he makes his way off the DL.
Tanaka went on the 15-day disabled list while dealing with tendonitis in his wrist in April and at the time Brian Cashman said that Tanaka could be out "for at least a month." According to Hardball Talk, Tanaka threw from flat ground at 60 feet and went for 50 pitches and moving forward he likely will see how his arm is feeling before the Yankees confirm a timetable for his return.
Tanaka started for the team on Opening Day and he is pitching this season with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. Tanaka and the Yankees are hoping that Tanaka doesn't need Tommy John surgery this year. Tanaka has started four games and is 2-1 on the season with a 3.22 ERA, 24 strikeouts, 10 runs allowed (eight earned) in 22 innings.
Last season Tanaka had a strong start before dealing with an elbow injury and getting shut down for the year. Tanaka was 13-5 in 20 games started with a 2.77 ERA, 141 strikeouts in 136 innings. The Yankees have been getting some strong pitching from Michael Pineda, while CC Sabathia is looking better despite his record. Tanaka is the top starter and he would take over as the ace again once he comes back from the disabled list.
The Yankees are currently first in the AL East and they have played above expectations over the first month and a half of the season.