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Masahiro Tanaka Debut Provides Hope for New York Yankees

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By @jetleli

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Spring Training games are almost always meaningless affairs for veteran players, but that mantra gets thrown out the window when you are Masahiro Tanaka. Thankfully for the New York Yankees, Tanaka’s debut provided great reason for optimism, which has been hard to come by for most surrounding the Bronx Bombers in the post-Jeter era.

It only took Tanaka 19 pitches to get through all six batters that the Atlanta Braves threw at him over two innings. The Japanese right-hander dispatched all with ease, striking out Freddie Freeman and Jonny Gomes and forcing four additional groundouts. Along the way, Tanaka flashed his fastball, curveball, splitter and slider, and even reached 91 miles per hour on the radar gun. Tanaka did not exactly have blow-it-by-you stuff, but was hitting hitting his spots and moving the ball.

What is more important than the substance of Tanaka’s stuff on the mound is that he simply lasted two innings without discomfort. After nearly undergoing Tommy John Surgery during the latter half of the 2014 MLB Season, the right hander underwent a vigorous treatment program and was able to fend off the surgery. Of course, the Yankees will be holding their breath every time that he takes the mound, but they will also feel less wary with every passing start.

In order for the Yankees to have an even remote chance of making it back to October in 2015, they are going to need Tanaka to be both healthy and firing on all cylinders. The first start of Spring Training provided more than a glimmer of hope that both of these things are distinct possibilities, and it really seems impossible to doubt that Tanaka will be an All-Star caliber pitcher if he can simply stay on the mound.

Tyler Leli is a Washington Capitals writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or join his network on Google.

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