MLB

Yankees’ Rivera, Pettitte hit right notes in first BP

TAMPA — Like so much of his marvelous career, Mariano Rivera’s initial baseball steps back from right knee surgery are going smoothly.

“It was the first batting practice I threw this year and I am really happy with the results,’’ Rivera said following a 25-pitch outing at George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday. “And it will get better.’’

Andy Pettitte preceded Rivera with a 24-pitch batting practice session he and manager Joe Girardi were satisfied with.

“I just wanted to make it through with everything working the way it should be and it was,’’ Pettitte said.

Girardi never detected Pettitte’s mechanics falling off, which is an encouraging sign.

“He looked great and responded well. You don’t want to see a guy laboring through a bullpen session and he didn’t,” Girardi said of his 40-year-old third starter.

Working with his familiar smooth delivery, Rivera breezed through the workout that was watched by former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, Girardi, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, bullpen coach Mike Harkey, general manager Brian Cashman and assistant GM Billy Eppler.

“I felt real good. The big thing will be to do the real thing, running to first base and fielding bunts,’’ the 43-year-old Rivera said. “I have done that on the back field but that’s not the same as a real game.’’

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Posada, a guest instructor, said he was impressed with Rivera’s signature pitch — a cut fastball.

“It moved like a slider,’’ Posada said.

No date has been set for Rivera to work a game, but watching Rivera throw Girardi can’t find proof the closer had major knee surgery.

“He looked like what you expect him to look like,” he said. “He looked normal to me. I don’t see anything different.”

After three bullpen workouts and one batting practice, Rivera said he is approaching being ready for a game.

“Maybe one or two more batting practices, but we have a long time,’’ Rivera said. “We don’t have to rush it, build it up and go from there.’’

Rivera faced minor leaguers Kyle Roller and Rob Segedin and played mind games with Segedin.

“You better swing,’’ Rivera said to the Teaneck, N.J., native before delivering the first pitch of the workout.

When you have been around as long as Rivera, throwing batting practice is normally another mundane step to getting ready for a season.

Yet, because he hadn’t faced a hitter in so long, baseball’s all-time saves leader, with 608, was anxious.

“I wanted to see hitters. I didn’t do nothing different than from the bullpen [workouts],’’ Rivera said. “It helped me to see how the ball was moving, location and how they are swinging.’’

Rivera, who continues to wear a small brace on his right knee, said it didn’t take a serious knee injury last May to make him realize he likes what he does for a living.

“I am excited to feel the mound and see hitters. It was great,’’ said Rivera, who hadn’t thrown to a batter since last April 30, when he secured a 2-1 win over the Orioles by getting Nick Markakis to bang into a 6-4-3 double play. “I always appreciate it, that’s why I love the game of baseball. You don’t know when the last day you play [comes].’’

So when is the last day for Rivera?

“I don’t know, I will let you know,’’ said Rivera, who has decided what his future beyond this season is, but isn’t ready to make it public.

If yesterday was another step toward the end it was like all the other ones: smooth.