LAKELAND, Fla. — Masahiro Tanaka threw 33 pitches in a bullpen session Friday and the Yankees’ ace impressed pitching coach Larry Rothschild.
“I thought it was very good, the quality of pitches and arm speed,’’ Rothschild said. “I think he is progressing the way we would like to see.’’
Tanaka will make his first start of the exhibition schedule Sunday against the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla.
So far Tanaka hasn’t displayed any evidence the surgery on the right elbow to remove a bone spur last October has affected him.
As part of taking it slow with their ace, it’s possible Tanaka will work on an extra day of rest during spring training.
Joe Girardi is impressed enough with Starlin Castro’s bat he might use the right-handed hitter to hit second behind Jacoby Ellsbury against lefty starters.
“It’s definitely something I would consider,’’ Girardi said of hitting Castro No. 2.
Castro, 26 later this month, is a career .265 hitter against lefties and batted .281 versus them last season.
As for getting Castro comfortable at third base, where there is no backup to Chase Headley, Girardi said Rob Refsnyder is closer to working there than Castro.
Ellsbury will play for the first time in the exhibition season Saturday against the Red Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Asked by Girardi at the start of camp what he felt was best, Ellsbury wanted more time than others to get ready.
“It’s nothing crazy, just a few more reps in BP, running and throwing, I feel ready to go,’’ Ellsbury said Friday.
Brett Gardner won’t appear in a game until March 15 due to a lingering bone bruise in his left wrist that surfaced last October.
Gardner has been limited to batting practice in the indoor cage and did that Friday.
“Everything went well in the cage,’’ Gardner said.
Training day
Solid backup plan
Catcher Austin Romine’s bid to be Brian McCann’s backup went up by throwing out Ian Kinsler trying to swipe second in the second inning.
Absolute zero
With three regulars in the lineup, the Yankees were blanked, 3-0, and got six hits.
Caught my eye
Right-hander Luis Cessa, a former Mets prospect who was acquired from the Tigers for Justin Wilson, threw two scoreless innings and fanned two.
Today’s schedule
Tyler Cloyd, a non-roster invite who started 28 games in Korea last year, will face the Red Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
