MOOSIC, Pa. — It has been more than two years since former Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang last appeared in a major league game.
He won’t have to wait much longer. After making his final rehab start for Washington’s Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs, yesterday against the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees, the Nationals announced Wang will start for them at home Friday night against the Mets.
“We think he’s going to get pretty close to where he was in the past,” Syracuse manager and former major league catcher Randy Knorr said after yesterday’s game. “I mean, he may never be that. But to get him close to that . . . he was pretty impressive [with the Yankees].”
Wang, who said he was back to “80 to 90 percent” of where he was when he was a Yankee, allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings yesterday, striking out five and walking one. He threw 96 pitches, including 63 strikes, and after topping out at 91 miles per hour, said he was hoping to add a couple more as he continues to strengthen his arm.
“Overall, I feel good,” Wang said. “I just wasn’t satisfied with the sinker. It wasn’t down, so I wasn’t satisfied with it today.”
A three-run homer by catcher Gustavo Molina in the second inning was the biggest blow. Wang also allowed a two-out RBI double to second baseman Luis Nunez in the fourth and a sacrifice fly to outfielder Jordan Parraz in the fifth.
“I think he’s improving,” Knorr said. “I think he shows signs of good sink, and there’s obviously times when he leaves the ball up. It’s been a long process for him.”
After throwing seven shutout innings in his major league debut in 2005, Wang quickly developed into one of the American League’s top pitchers for the Yankees, winning 19 games in 2006 and ’07.
But his career took a turn for the worse in Houston on June 15, 2008, when he stumbled rounding third trying to score on a single by Derek Jeter. Wang suffered a sprained Lisfranc ligament and partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon in his right foot on the play, and he missed the rest of the season.
“It is what it is,” Wang said of the injury. “You can’t change history. I just need to look at the positive side. I’ve learned a lot in the last two years, from the rehab side and the training side. I just want to stay positive.”
Wang struggled when he returned to the mound the following year. He finished the year 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA, and gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings in his final appearance in pinstripes at home on July 4, 2009, against the Blue Jays. Later that month, Wang underwent season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, and became a free agent after the season when the Yankees non-tendered him.
Wang signed an incentive-laden one-year deal with the Nationals prior to the 2010 season, but spent it rehabbing an injured shoulder. After Wang re-signed with the Nationals prior to this season, he continued to rehab, until he finally returned to the mound in an official game on June 27 for Low-A Hagerstown — almost two full years after his last appearance for the Yankees.
“For what he’s gone through to get back to where he’s at now, and I think he’s really close, that’s pretty impressive,” Knorr said. “Most guys probably would have, after the surgery, say ‘That’s enough,’ and hope to play catch with their kids or something. It’s very impressive what he’s done.”
Since making that first start, when he allowed two runs in three innings, Wang has slowly moved up the ladder. He made one start with High-A Potomac and two with Double-A Harrisburg — throwing a combined 15 shutout innings — before making his first Triple-A start on July 19 against the Mets’ affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons. Wang allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3innings, striking out four and walking one.
Now, Wang will get his chance to return to the big leagues and resurrect his career.
“I think he’s close to being ready,” Knorr said. “Timetable-wise, obviously you’d like to see some guys have a little more time, but we don’t have that time.
“I think he’s able to compete, and I think that’s what they want.”