TAMPA — The road back is longest after a pitcher suffers a shoulder injury.

It was a great St. Patrick’s Day for Yankees reliever Andrew Bailey because he found out he was making the trip to Disney on Wednesday to pitch against the Braves.

This will be his first game on the mound since July 12, 2013.

“It’s been a crazy ride but you just have to trust the surgeons, trust the doctors,’’ Bailey said Tuesday at Steinbrenner Field, a night another Yankees pitcher made a comeback. CC Sabathia pitched in his first game since May 10, allowing four hits and two runs in two innings in a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays.

“I feel great,” Bailey said. “I’ve passed all the tests, now it’s time to let it go in a game.’’

And see if he can make it back to be part of what should be a vaunted Yankees bullpen.

“This bullpen is going to be one of the best in baseball, I think,’’ Bailey said of the group that includes Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller, David Carpenter, Adam Warren and Justin Wilson.

“Just the arms you have here, everybody throws 94 to 100,” Bailey said. “It’s really crazy, different looks and guys who can go multiple innings, match up, do whatever.’’

That bullpen may need to live up to the lofty expectations.

“With the starters we have, coming off injuries last year, it’s a bullpen you can lean on if need be,’’ he said. “Everyone is excited and hopefully I’m a part of that.’’

If Bailey continues his remarkable recovery from shoulder surgery, the 2009 AL Rookie of the Year will make this strong bullpen that much more of a force.

Baseball is all about bullpens now.

“This is the best group of young arms I can remember since I’ve been here,’’ Hall of Fame reliever Goose Gossage said.

Gossage knows bullpens never have been more valuable.

“These starters aren’t picking up the slack,’’ Gossage said of starting pitchers across the majors. “They’re creating this extreme need for bullpen arms.’’

The Royals showed the value of a masterful bullpen. The Yankees have two vital starters, Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka, who must prove they can overcome injuries. With Sabathia, it’s his right knee. For Tanaka, it’s his right elbow.

Manager Joe Girardi is going to lean on his bullpen, and Bailey, 30, hopes he can be in that pen at the start of the season or soon after.

The lowest point was July 24, 2013, when Bailey underwent shoulder surgery and was told he essentially would have to go through a 24-month rehab journey.

“I went through the Tommy John process in college, so I knew what the amount of time was going to feel like, but your shoulder is a different thing,’’ Bailey said. “What keeps you driving is the opportunity in front of me now. I’m a big believer success happens when you take advantage of opportunities.’’

Bailey owns 89 saves. Betances and Miller each have one. An effective Bailey could add so much to the Yankees pen in experience and ability.

Monday night he was there to offer support to Betances after the big right-hander had his second straight shaky outing.

Bailey has been through so much, he knows how to handle any situation. He knows the value of being supportive.

“My wife, Amanda, has given me so much support,’’ Bailey said. They have two children, a daughter, Teddy, 2½, and a son, Matthew, who was born this past Halloween.

“Being able to go home and play with your kids after physical therapy, that was the biggest thing,’’ Bailey said. “If I wasn’t in that position to do that, I don’t know what I would do.’’

Bailey did make one concession to the shoulder while playing with his children.

“I held them in my left arm,’’ he said with a smile.

“Wednesday’s game is the first goal of many goals,’’ Bailey said. “My goal was to get into a spring training game. The ultimate goal is to win the World Series and be a part of it. That’s where we all want to be. My road starts with Day 1 in spring training and that’s Wednesday.’’

He is finally back on the road he has longed to travel.