Masahiro Tanaka is reportedly ready to participate in New York Yankees' Spring Training after missing the majority of 2014 MLB season due to an elbow injury.
Tanaka, who signed a seven-year deal worth $155 million with the Yankees last year, was on pace to lead the Yankees back to the postseason, but the Japanese pitcher sustained a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
The 26-year-old was supposed to underwent the dreaded Tommy John surgery, but the Yankees and Tanaka decided to forego the operation and opted to try alternative treatments. After missing almost two months, Tanaka managed to pitch in two games in September, showing no signs of the injury.
In a recent interview with Japan Times, Tanaka revealed that he has been feeling good over the past several months after participating in workouts with his former team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. The Japanese pitching sensation said that he is not feeling any pain at all this offseason.
Tanaka, who went 13-5 with a 2.77 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 20 starts for the Yankees last season, played down speculation about his plan to change his approach next season to prolong his career.
"Whether I'm the ace or I'm used in different roles within games, I'm always thinking I'm going to win, so I'm not going to change anything I do," said Tanaka, who is eyeing a playoff stint in the 2015 MLB season. "This year I hope to have the shortest offseason among all 30 big league clubs."
MLB analysts Christopher Carelli of Yankee Unscripted, like many other experts and fans, expressed concern, though, raising questions about Tanaka's ability to stay healthy.
Carelli said that the Yankees need Tanaka to be healthy all-season long to have a chance of going deep into the playoffs, but pointed out that Yankees fans should "hold their breath" next season because the Japanese might just be one-pitch away from a career-changing surgery in his right elbow.
"Whether he succumbs to a full tear of the UCL in 2015 or later, he'll miss minimally one full year of baseball, and he might never be the same again," Carelli said of Tanaka. "So, hold your breath when Tanaka strides toward the plate and puts immense torque on his elbow to produce that filthy split-finger fastball. It might be his last pitch."
Aside from Tanaka, the Yankees also need anything they can get from veteran CC Sabathia, who also failed to make an impact for the club last season due to a knee injury.
