Good news for people who love good news about exciting young pitchers currently rehabbing from labrum surgery: Michael Pineda threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session this morning, including sliders. Chad Jennings of The LoHud Yankees Blog reports that the 24-year old right hander completed his longest bullpen session since undergoing surgery last spring to repair a torn labrum.
The Tuesday bullpen session marked the first time in the rehab process that Pineda thew sliders off the mound, although he had previously thrown the pitch from flat ground. The Yankees acquired Pineda and Jose Campos in a deal with the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi. Pineda was shutdown early last spring with right rotator cuff tendinitis, he would eventually suffer a tear during his rehab. Jesus Montero, on the other hand, was healthy for the Mariners last season, but he appeared to play the game in the absence of working legs and any semblance of hitting ability.
While Pineda did not throw baseballs last season, he did engage in the ol’ 12 oz. curl on at least one occasion. The 6’5″ inch pitcher was arrested and charged with DUI in Tampa last August, to which he pleaded no contest last month.
Pineda is currently on schedule to return to baseball game action in June.
