The Yankees' star rookie will resume throwing in hopes of returning to the team before the end of the regular season.
Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka has been cleared by a team doctor to begin a throwing program, according to ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand. The 25-year-old right-hander is expected to throw a bullpen session later this week, though the team did not disclose a specific day.
Tanaka played catch on Tuesday and did not have any issues, Yankees manager Joe Girardi told Marchand. That came four days after the team shut down its star rookie due to "general soreness," though Tanaka said at the time the move was precautionary.
The Yankees hope Tanaka, who posted a 2.51 ERA with 135 strikeouts and only 19 walks in 129⅓ innings before a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow landed him on the disabled list, can return this season. The Yankees are four games behind the Tigers for the second American League Wild Card spot.
Tanaka and the Yankees elected for a platelet-rich plasma injection over Tommy John surgery after the injury was diagnosed on July 9. Tanaka was expected to miss at least six weeks at the time he landed on the disabled list, but if he returns at any point this season, he will likely do so after already missing more than two months.
New York has remained in the postseason race despite losing Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, Ivan Nova and David Phelps from the rotation for various stretches due to injury. Midseason acquisition Brandon McCarthy (2.80 ERA/139 ERA+) and 25-year-old rookie Shane Green (3.09 ERA/126 ERA+) have performed well in the absence of most of the Yankees' Opening Day rotation.