For the New York Yankees, the first day of summer camp was going really well even though two Yankee players have tested positive for the coronavirus. The demeanor of the day turned quickly when Masahiro Tanaka was pitching to Giancarlo Stanton, Stanton hit a line drive that hit Tanaka in the head. Tanaka immediately fell to the ground in obvious pain. As he was hit you could hear a loud crack when the ball struck him.
He laid motionless for minutes before trainers helped him off the mound to the dugout. Stanton sat in the dugout stunned and concerned. Tanaka was taken to New York’s Presbyterian Hospital for further evaluation. The Yankees issued the following statement: He is currently alert, responsive, and walking under his own power. He is being sent to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for further evaluation and testing.
A few hours later Tanaka was released from the hospital. Later in the evening, Tanaka posted to his Twitter account: “I appreciate all the support. I feel it a bit right now, but I’m all good. Going to try to get back on the mound ASAP! Thanks again for all the encouraging words!”
Gleyber Torres unhappy with Social Media
Yesterday shortly after Masahiro Tanaka was hit in the head by a line drive Gleyber Torres took to Twitter to show his distaste for social media outlets showing the exact moment that Tanaka was hit. He first said:
I understand that people are doing their job and want to show everything we are doing, I understand that, but showing that exact moment that happened with our teammate does not seem right to us, we feel terrible to see the video in each part of social media.” He then added, “I understand that they have to write what happened but do not show that moment, Praying for Tanaka!“
Boone says first day of camp was efficient
After the first day of summer camp at New York Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, manager Aaron Boone expressed his pleasure with how efficiently the first day went.
While expressing concern for Masahiro Tanaka being hit in the head with a Giancarlo Stanton line drive he said: “I thought it went pretty well, Masahiro getting hit took the air out of it and put a little fear in everyone.” But he liked what he saw from the work the team put in.
During a normal training camp, the New York Yankees use the George M. Steinbrenner training complex in Tampa Florida. The complex there has eight training fields. With the uptick in coronavirus cases in Florida, the Yankees moved north to the Stadium to have what is being called summer camp. With so many players and such a small place, the Yankees are using all parts of the Stadium even the great hall for a variety of needs.
“From an operational standpoint, I thought we were in good shape,’’ Boone said. “We used four mounds for bullpens and that worked well. It was a little bit of a longer day for our coaching staff, but we were in a good spot facility-wise with the reps we needed to get.â€
Summer camp continues today at the Stadium. This will be a very different training period and a very different season as a whole. The New York Yankees will play 60 games over 66 days. To start the season on July 23rd much to the delight of Yankees fans, new ace Gerrit Cole will pitch on opening day in Washington D.C. against the Washington Nationals, and their ace Mac Scherzer. Cole said of the honor: ” I’m really excited about it opening up in D.C. is perfect for the country.â€