New York Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka: “I feel lucky, it could have been much worse”

New York Yankees, Masahiro Tanaka
Sep 29, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) leaves the field during the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees in the final home game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

New York Yankees‘ starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka addressed the media on Tuesday, and the primary topic was, unsurprisingly, the moment in which he got hit in the head by a Giancarlo Stanton line drive, and the aftermath of that moment.

“Fortunately, everything has been fine. Things have been going in the right direction. Obviously, we are taking things a little bit more carefully now, but the good thing is that I’m feeling fine right now,” he said.

When questioned about how scary that moment was, Tanaka said that “everything happened so quickly. By the time I realized the ball was heading my way, it had already unfolded.”

“It was a very unfortunate event, but I feel very lucky. It could have been something much worse, and now I have no symptoms at all,” he confirmed.

The next step for Tanaka is throwing a bullpen, but the Yankees are taking it “day by day,” as Tanaka explained it. “Hopefully I will be able to get on the mound sooner rather than later,” he said.

The Yankees are taking things slow

The Japanese star confirmed that after leaving the hospital, he has felt no concussion-like symptoms at all. However, he still doesn’t know when he will be pitching again for the New York Yankees.

“I want to be optimistic about (returning relatively soon,) but the injury is at the head. I need to be cautious about it, moreso than with any other body part,” he told the media.

Tanaka cited family reasons for returning to Japan when spring training action was halted, but said he was able to keep training. “There were some restrictions back in Japan, but I threw some bullpens and made the most out of the situation.”

All in all, Tanaka and the Yankees dodged a bullet and it seems that the stellar hurler won’t miss too much time of the regular season, provided he keeps feeling no symptoms.