Pineda progressing; April return unlikely
Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda watches from the dugout during a game against the Washington Nationals. (March 15, 2012) Credit: AP
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Michael Pineda pitching for the Yankees in April pretty much can be eliminated as a possibility. But that doesn't mean he isn't progressing.
The 23-year-old, on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, played catch in the outfield with pitching coach Larry Rothschild for a second straight day Friday.
"Felt better today," Joe Girardi said. "If he wouldn't have been able to play catch [Friday], we wouldn't have been too excited. But he was able to play catch today and felt pretty good."
Pineda has had a rough time from the start, reporting to camp overweight, dealing with constant questions about his lack of velocity and landing on the DL.
"Spring training was obviously different for him than what he was accustomed to," Girardi said. "In the season, it [the attention] picks up a little bit more. So I think it's a good time for him to have an understanding of what he's going to go through when he does get back. And really, he just has to go out and pitch. He doesn't have to change who he is."
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