When Michael Pineda came over to the Bronx in a blockbuster trade back in January of 2012, many thought he would slot into the rotation right away. After coming off an All-Star campaign in 2011 in which he went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 171 innings, he was looked at as a phenom – ready to take the league by storm.
Flash forward two years later, and Pineda has yet to throw a pitch in pinstripes – thanks in part to major shoulder surgery. Now, as the Yankees prepare to head to camp for the spring, Pineda is finally ready to showcase his talents.
“I’m feeling 100 percent right now, and my body is in perfect shape,” Pineda said to the Associated Press. “Everything is in the past. I’m ready to go.” With the first four spots in the rotation taken by CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Masahiro Tanaka, and Ivan Nova, the fifth spot will be the main competition in camp. Pineda, who refused to say he was the favorite in the race, will be going up against David Phelps, Adam Warren and perhaps an outsider like Vidal Nuno.
Pineda can say he’s healthy all he wants, but the fact remains that he hasn’t thrown a meaningful pitch in two years. Unlike Tommy John surgery on the elbow, which has become an almost routine procedure, shoulder surgeries are still mysterious; one guy may fully recover, while another one will never be the same. Pineda is still throwing in the mid-90’s, but how will he hold up long term?
Regardless, at only 25 years of age, the Yankees still may want to ease Pineda back. He still has options, so starting the year at Triple-A is a possibility.The fifth rotation spot won’t be etched in stone, so the Yankees will figure to have multiple contributors throughout the season.
The front office and especially Yankee fans hope that Pineda can finally do what he was brought here to do. It all starts this Friday as pitchers and catchers report to Tampa.
Michael Pineda stopped by to chat. He says he’s ready to compete for 5th spot pic.twitter.com/RDJDG2XAUs
— Anthony McCarron (@AnthonyMcCarron) February 10, 2014
