On the day Aroldis Chapman made his first competitive appearance in a Yankees uniform, it was one of Chapman’s teammates who had team officials excited about his velocity.

Nathan Eovaldi also recorded his 2016 Grapefruit League debut Thursday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, and he reached 99 mph on the YES radar gun — same as Chapman, only with better command.

“I’ve always thrown hard early in the season,” said Eovaldi, who threw two perfect innings against a strong Blue Jays lineup in an 11-4 Yankees loss. “Spring training, first few games, it’s always been coming out pretty good.”

Eovaldi hadn’t pitched against another team since a loss to the Rays on Sept. 5, after which the Yankees shut him down with right elbow inflammation. Moreover, a tender groin muscle slowed down Eovaldi in the early going of this camp.

All of those issues appeared to be in the past on Thursday. While he expressed displeasure with the splitter that elevated his performance last year, Eovaldi said he liked the sharpness of his slider, for which he lost a feel as his splitter became more of a weapon.

“The breaking ball was real good. It was crisp,” Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “It was good to see him come out like that.”

Rothschild said Masahiro Tanaka, set to start Friday’s home game against the Orioles, would throw about 45 pitches or three innings.

Judging by his stat line Thursday against the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium, Bryan Mitchell did nothing to hurt his chances of being part of the Yankees’ bullpen.

Nevertheless, the right-hander with above-average stuff found some flaws with giving up a run, four hits and striking out two in three innings. One of the hits was an opposite-field homer by Adam Jones in the second inning of a 4-4 tie.

“Personally, I don’t think I commanded the ball very well in the first inning,’’ said Mitchell, who is being looked at for the role Adam Warren filled the past two years. “Most of the balls in play were missed execution on the pitches.’’

Mitchell said his command improved in the second and third innings, but his curveball could have been sharper.

“I left a few up in the zone. Honestly, looking back I wish I had thrown a few more,’’ Mitchell said. “That’s a pitch I need to throw a lot.’’

According to a scout behind the plate, Mitchell’s velocity ranged from 93 to 95 mph. The scout agreed with Mitchell’s self-evaluation.

“Still has a pretty good arm and stuff, but makes a lot of mistakes with command,’’ the scout said.

The Orioles tied the Braves in their first exhibition game and dropped the next nine tilts until Thursday’s 4-4 deal with the Yankees.

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Dive right in

Ben Gamel might not have a chance to make the big leagues out of spring training, but he turned in a sensational catch Thursday at GMS Field, robbing Russell Martin of an extra-base hit in the fourth with a diving grab.

Error of their ways

After making three errors Wednesday against the Mets, the Yankees committed three more versus the Orioles and one against the Blue Jays Thursday. Stud shortstop prospect Jorge Mateo made his second error in as many games. He also went deep in the hole to make a “wow’’ play in the eighth.

Caught my eye

Catcher Carlos Corporan worked a perfect pickoff play with Starlin Castro at second in the second inning, catching the Orioles’ Chris Davis.

Today’s schedule

Masahiro Tanaka makes his second start of the spring against the Orioles at GMS Field.