DUNEDIN, Fla. — Having conquered the world of simulated games, Michael Pineda is finally in position to make a run at being the Yankees’ fifth starter.
Pineda, who hasn’t pitched in a big league game since 2011 with the Mariners due to complicated right shoulder surgery in 2012, will follow Hiroki Kuroda on Friday in his first appearance of the spring against the Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“Right now, yeah’’ Joe Girardi said when asked if he believed Pineda was healthy enough to be in the rotation.
The key words in that answer are “right now’’ because nobody knows how the shoulder will hold up when the workload increases, which it will Friday. Girardi said three innings could be expected from Pineda.
Pineda worked a 35-pitch simulated game Sunday morning at the Yankees complex in Tampa. He was sharp in the beginning and ran into control problems in the end, when he issued consecutive walks on 3-1 pitches to finish it.
“My fastball and fastball command were good, I am happy,’’ Pineda said through a big smile.
Because of the surgery to repair an anterior labrum tear in the shoulder and essentially being away for two years (he worked 40 2/3 innings at Triple-A last season), Pineda was considered to be behind David Phelps and Adam Warren in the race for the No. 5 starter when camp opened.
When right, Pineda has more fastball and a biting slider. However, he hasn’t had the mid-90s heater since the first half of 2011. And nobody knows if it will ever return.
“It’s been a couple of years since I saw him, but today the ball was popping out of his hand and had different movement on all of his fastballs,’’ said Scott Sizemore, who homered off Pineda in 2011 as a member of the A’s and faced him in the simulated game. “I think it’s just a natural thing for him. Sometime he cuts it, sometimes it sinks and sometimes it’s a true four-steamer.’’
The Yankees don’t use speed guns during simulated games and there was a belief Pineda suffered the injury during spring training in 2012 while attempting to manufacture velocity.
Sizemore, who shared at-bats with Zoilo Almonte against Pineda, guessed at the velocity the pitcher reached Sunday.
“I have to believe it was in the low- to mid-90s, but with that movement it makes it challenging,’’ the right-handed hitting infielder said.
Phelps and Warren have bullpen experience Pineda doesn’t. And because of the surgery, it’s not likely Pineda would be asked to work in relief.
There is no number Pineda has to reach on the speed gun to keep his chances alive for the spot behind CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Masahiro Tanaka and Ivan Nova.
The 6-foot-7, 265-pounder simply has to show the shoulder and his mentality can be available when called upon.
“That he can take the ball every time we expect him to take the ball,’’ Girardi said. “He has been great. Everything we have asked him to do he has been right on.’’
After Sabathia watched Tanaka’s debut Saturday when he threw two scoreless innings and fanned three against the Phillies, the staff ace said, “We have a chance to be good.’’
Sabathia was talking about the rotation, an area of concern even after Kuroda returned and Tanaka arrived.
So what would adding Pineda to the group mean?
“That’s something to get a little excited about,’’ Girardi said. “This kid pitched pretty well his freshman season.’’
There was no sophomore season. Nor a junior season. Two years away from the action can dull the competitive senses and then there is his shoulder.
Friday delivers the next step for Pineda, a mystery pitcher at this point who could muscle his way into the rotation, open the season in the minors or have his right shoulder detour him. The destination is up to his wing and mind.