He throws without pain. He is anxious to pitch. Both are good signs as Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman works his way back from a bout of left rotator cuff inflammation.
Chapman made 50 throws on flat ground from a distance of 60 feet before Sunday's 9-5 win over Oakland at the Stadium. It was his second day of throwing after almost two weeks off. "No pain. No discomfort at all," he said through a translator.
He traveled to Baltimore with the team and will have a throwing session Monday before resting on Tuesday, he said.
"So far he's good. He's in a good spot," manager Joe Girardi said. "He's where we expected him to be. ... There's still a ways to go. We have to build him up more before we get him on a mound."
Chapman is 1-0 with seven saves in eight chances and a 3.55 ERA. The six save opportunities since his injury have all been converted by Dellin Betances (five) and Adam Warren (one).
Now that he's throwing again, Chapman's biggest obstacle might be dialing back his eagerness to get back into games. The Yankees haven't put a timetable on it, but he is expected back sometime in June.
"Mentally I feel great. I am anxious to come back, but at the same time, I don't want to rush myself. I know it takes time to get back on the field," he said. "I want to keep doing the exercises and strengthening workouts they give me and make sure I am ready to go once they tell me to go."
