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Marly RiveraESPN Writer
Manager Aaron Boone was not hyperbolizing by saying the New York Yankees “dodged a bullet” with pitcher Masahiro Tanaka seemingly symptom-free just a day after he was hit on the right side of the head by a 112 mph line from Giancarlo. Stanton.
After undergoing a battery of tests, Tanaka’s official diagnosis was simply a “mild concussion,” and he was discharged from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital on Saturday night. Surprisingly, the 31-year-old right-hander returned to Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
“He came around noon today and was in a very good mood,” Boone said. “I slept very well at night; no loss of appetite. We are encouraged where it is and we will take it day by day, but I hope it is not something that will take too long. Since arriving at the hospital, you are practically symptom free and feeling well .. . [was] in a good mood showing up today so I think we’re really excited at this point. “
“First of all, a very scary incident, something that when you do what we’re doing, it’s hard to avoid,” outfielder Brett Gardner said. “We’ve seen him here today, walking around like he’s his normal self, so I hope he’s clear.”
Left-hander James Paxton, who launched live batting practice on the second official day of practice at Yankee Stadium, set out to use an “L-screen” as a safety mechanism. His left-handed partner Jordan Montgomery, who followed Tanaka with his own pretend play on Saturday, had also requested the screen protector, which is generally used for BP sessions, but rarely for pretend play.
Paxton, who was 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA for the Yankees in 2019, said he has regained health after undergoing a microscopic lumbar discectomy in February to repair a herniated disc and remove a peridiscal cyst.
“What happened yesterday was so scary. After seeing that happen, I just wanted to play it safe, especially the first time I was there,” said Paxton. “Fortunately, it doesn’t happen very often, but I just wanted to play it safe the first time. Next time it will be more like a pretend game, so the screen won’t be out there. But, especially after yesterday, it was a conscious decision. just keep her out there for security. “
He added: “When a ball makes you so strong, there really isn’t much you can do. You’re lucky if you put the glove in the right place. That ball came back, I think they said 112 mph, and there’s really nothing you can do about it. You just pray that it doesn’t happen. “
Boone also said that in addition to DJ LeMahieu and Luis Cessa, who are isolating themselves at home after testing positive for COVID-19, the rest of the team was healthy during the first two days of full practice at Yankee Stadium.
Receiver Gary Sanchez and closer Aroldis Chapman, who were not at the stadium the day before because admission protocols had not been completed, participated in training on Sunday. Chapman pitched a bullpen session and Sánchez was one of three hitters who faced Paxton during batting practice, along with Miguel Andújar and Tyler Wade.
The Yankees will hold two in-game games tonight, with JA Happ starting on Monday and Gerrit Cole slated for Tuesday night’s game.
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