TRENTON — Pitcher Michael Pineda was pulled from what was supposed to be his final extended spring training start on Tuesday after three innings and 45 pitches because of a cracked nail on his pitching hand which caused bleeding.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said it was a result of the right-hander cutting his nails before the game and he “cut one too close.” Cashman said it is a minor issue and Pineda will pitch again in 5-7 days.
“We’ll continue extended spring probably a little longer until it resolves so it’s not something that’s lingering,” said Cashman. “Our intentions are to get him up to 75 pitches in that situation and then release him into the wild. We’ll do a 30-day rehab program and then return him to whether it’s the major leagues or the minor leagues, whatever the circumstances dictate at the time.”
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Curtis Granderson had successful surgery Tuesday morning to insert a pin in his knuckle. Cashman said the procedure was only done to help the healing process and wouldn’t change his estimated six-to-eight-week recovery time from a fractured left pinkie.
Granderson hasn’t played since getting hit with a pitch at Tampa Bay on May 24.
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Eduardo Nunez underwent a CT scan to ensure he does not have a cracked rib. The results came back negative, but Cashman said the shortstop’s recovery is going slow…Francisco Cervelli (broken hand) has not begun to do function work and is undergoing hand therapy.