Spring Training is right around the corner, as pitchers and catchers report to Tampa and Steinbrenner Field on Feb. 18 to begin preparing for the season. For all of the question marks the Yankees have with their starting rotation, one that must be looked at is whether Michael Pineda can avoid the injury bug that has plagued him throughout his career.
“Every year I’m getting older and I need to work harder and harder,” the 27 year old right-hander said at the Yankees minor league complex in an interview with the New York Post. Pineda, who just turned 27 last month, is hoping to finally break the 200 inning barrier for the first time in his career. Last season, he was well on his way to that mark until a strained flexor muscle in his right forearm shut him down and kept him from that goal.
Things looked promising for Pineda at the beginning of last season as he posted a 5-0 record with a 2.72 ERA by May 10. On Mother’s Day, he turned in a dominating performance when he fanned 16 batters in seven innings against Baltimore, and even before that pitched eight shutout innings against a very potent Toronto lineup. But alas, it went in another direction after that as his record in his remaining 20 starts was 7-10 with a 5.04 ERA.
He is a valuable member of this Yankees rotation that has some young arms. A year with a healthy Big Mike could boost the Yankees hopes for the AL Pennant. Pineda is also excited about the bullpen the Yankees have this season with the addition of Aroldis Chapman to go with Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances. “You pitch 6 or 7 innings and you have a good chance to wins games,” he said.
Let’s hope the Yankees are able to see the fully healthy Michael Pineda that they coveted when they traded for him from Seattle in exchange for Jesus Montero.
