TAMPA, Fla. – Yankees right-hander Joba Chamberlain threw 31 fastballs and changeups in the bullpen Friday and is set to use all of his pitches during his next mound session.
Chamberlain, taking part in early workouts at the Yankees’ minor league complex, has thrown off the mound four times. His next session will be Monday, then spring training starts Friday.
Chamberlain will part of a rotation that includes CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte.
“I’m excited that they wanted me to be in a starting role,” Chamberlain said. “You just prepare like you’re going to get 30 starts and that’s the mindset you got to have set in.”
Chamberlain began last year in the bullpen, joined the rotation June 3, then was sidelined after his Aug. 4 start because of rotator cuff tendinitis that caused him to go on the disabled list.
When he returned Sept. 2, he went back to the bullpen.
Chamberlain added extra shoulder strengthening exercises to his offseason workout program.
“Just to keep it as strong as you can,” Chamberlain said. “It’s a long season.”
A long year, too.
Chamberlain was pulled over by state police in Nebraska last October and is facing charges of first-offense drunken driving and having an open container. He has spoken to youth groups on regular basis about the matter ever since.
“I did mess up, and I’ll be the first one to admit it,” Chamberlain said. “But I’m also the first one to come out and talk about it and not hide from it. We’ve all made mistakes in our lives. You have to be a man about it and face up to it.”
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Minor league 1B-3B Eric Duncan, taken in the first round of the 2003 amateur draft, could see playing time in the outfield this year. He took part in drills with roving outfield instructor Jack Hubbard.