No one has accused Masahiro Tanaka of being soft.
They are not going to start now.
The Yankees starting pitcher said he wants to pitch “ASAP” shortly after being released from the hospital after Giancarlo Stanton’s line hit him in the head.
“I appreciate all the support,” Tanaka tweeted. “I’m a little sorry right now, but I’m fine. I’m going to try to get back to the mound as soon as possible! Thanks again for all the words of encouragement! ”
Stanton’s online run hit Tanaka during a simulated game at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. It was the team’s first training session of restarted spring training. The camp closed on March 13 for fear of the spread of the coronavirus.
Tanaka collapsed after the ball hit him on what appeared to be his right temple. Stanton lowered his head and squatted down devastated because he had just hurt his teammate and friend. Tanaka remained motionless on the ground for about 10 minutes before leaving the field with the help of coaches and was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
“I would say he is doing well right now,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’ll go into the concussion protocol, but he feels like we’re getting good news on that front.”
Boone added: “Just waiting and praying that it’s okay. That’s one of those real, unfortunate and terrifying moments that happens from time to time in our game. “
Tanaka was pitching without a screen in front of him, the norm for pretend play, but a questionable move considering that Tanaka hadn’t needed to position his position since March and because he was up against Stanton, one of the game’s strongest hitters.
Batting coach Marcus Thames placed a screen in front of the mound before Jordan Montgomery pitched, after the terrifying incident in Tanaka. Boone said that Tanaka did not want a screen.
“Obviously, it is incredibly unfortunate what happened (on Saturday) and there are many ways that we hope we will prevent something really bad from happening. Unfortunately, that is sometimes the risk involved. He does his best all the time to protect men, but he won’t have a screen all the time. “
Montgomery called the episode “horrible”.
“It’s a shame to see something like that,” center fielder Aaron Hicks said, “especially during something as simple as a sim game. That’s one of those things where, as soon as you step on the field, anything can happen.”
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