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The injured prepare for spring training and a new year of chances
Here are a few injury updates that I was able to compile through a scan of the internet:
Manny Banuelos
Banuelos is preparing to make his long awaited return to the mound this spring. After undergoing Tommy John surgery before the 2013 season, ManBan has only pitched 24 innings over the last two seasons, but he says his elbow "feels normal, just like before surgery...I feel ready to go."
There is some small belief that he has a shot to make the team out of the bullpen, though I would rather he spend the beginning of 2014 building up his arm strength in Triple-A. "I want to show Brian Cashman and [Hal] Steinbrenner and all the people what they have now. I want to show them I can do it in the big leagues, this year. I want to make it. I can't wait to pitch again." He's still just 23, so he has plenty of time to make it work.
Francisco Cervelli
After the disaster that was Cervelli's 2013 season, the catcher is hoping to put everything behind him as he starts his early spring workouts. He suffered a broken hand back in April, but aggravated an old injury in his throwing elbow before being suspended for his connection to Biogenesis. "Last year was a disaster, and we just take the positives out of everything for being a better person and a better player," Cervelli said. Given his lack of minor league options, he is considered the likely favorite for the backup catcher job.
Vidal Nuno
A long shot for the rotation, but a viable option for the bullpen, Vidal Nuno is said to be fully healed from the groin injury that kept him out of action for an extensive amount of time in 2013. The lefty played in the Arizona Fall League and was likely the most impressive of the Yankees there after he compiled a 3.20 ERA and 2.49 FIP in 19.2 innings. I really hope he can make the team because I think he has a lot to offer the Yankees.
Michael Pineda
Pineda believes that he is healthy and ready to go for spring training this year. "I'm feeling 100 percent right now, and my body is in perfect shape...everything is in the past. I'm ready to go." Pineda has reportedly slimmed down to around 260 pounds this year and will have a chance to make the Yankees rotation.
Brian Cashman has high hopes for the 25-year-old. "He's gonna compete for the last spot and hopefully he wins it." While the competition includes David Phelps, Vidal Nuno, and Adam Warren, among others, Cashman might be playing favorites, or maybe he just wants the trade he made to work out for the Yankees in some way. Honestly, I have no shame about playing favorites: I want Pineda to be in the rotation.
Austin Romine
It is believed that Austin Romine has fully recovered from the concussion he suffered in September. "A week after the season was over, it was still kind of hanging around, but after that I was good to go and started working out...they made me see a doctor before I came out just to touch all the bases. I'm good to go."
It's become a baseball cliche, but he is officially in the best shape of his life after the young catcher stated "I feel like I'm in the best shape I've been in in a while...I'm just looking for some time to show them I can still do it. It's going to be a fight." Romine plans to latch onto Brian McCann and learn all he can starting when pitchers and catchers report this Friday.
Scott Sizemore
Sizemore is returning from his second ACL tear in his left knee in as many years. So far, he says he hasn't had any more issues since he had surgery in the beginning of the 2013 season and he is now working out on the field in Tampa. "Throughout the rehab process, I kind of knew what to expect the second time around, so I really pushed myself even harder, being that I figured this was my last go-round...I feel like I've had really good results so far." He's been working out on the same field as Derek Jeter.
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