TAMPA — CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda and Masahiro Tanaka threw batting practice Monday morning on Field 2 of the Yankees facility.
Tanaka’s session naturally garnered the most curiosity. The prized offseason addition from Japan threw his full repertoire to Francisco Cervelli, who thinks five fingers may not be enough to call a sign for each of the right-hander’s varied offerings.
“He threw everything,” Cervelli said. “I think I need one more finger. I’ve got to take off my glove.”
Cervelli said he is more impressed with Tanaka’s stuff every time he catches him.
“Now we can talk a little more — he’s great,” Cervelli said. “Both sides of the plate with every pitch. He’s able to throw every pitch in every count. I think he’s going to be fine. Really good.
“He threw everything today. The other day, just splits, sliders and fastballs. Today was everything: curveball. He tried to pitch a little like a simulation game. The more I catch, the more I know, he’s able to do so many things.”
Infielder Scott Sizemore faced Tanaka and also was impressed, though he mentioned Tanaka’s split-fingered fastball wasn’t that sharp.
“I don’t think it was one of his best ones,’’ Sizemore said of Tanaka’s signature pitch. “You are trying to see pitches, and even some curveballs I saw well, but it was so sharp I couldn’t pull the trigger.’’
Cervelli compared Tanaka’s splitter to teammate Hiroki Kuroda’s put-away pitch: “This one has more movement. Kuroda’s is more like a late split. They’re similar.”