Nearest Yankees, Chapman, say knee problems are gone

TAMPA, Fla. – Aroldis Chapman, close to the New York Yankees, recovered from left knee tendinitis that had bothered him for much of last season.

Chapman pitched 21 shots during his simulated match with four batters Thursday, at the age of 31. The southpaw hit three, including Giancarlo Stanton, and prompted Gary Sanchez to hit a broken ball on the ground.

Chapman began to experience knee pain last May and was placed on the disabled list from August 22 to September 19.

"I am in good health and I feel really good," Chapman said through a translator. "I felt normal there … everything went well."

He was 3-0 with 32 saves and a 2.45 silver in 55 appearances with an average of 99 mph with his fastball, compared to 100 the previous year and 101 in 2017.

"It's certainly not ideal to pitch like that, but in the end, I have to do my job and help my team," Chapman said. "The good thing about all of this is that it's from the past."

Even though Chapman's speed was slightly below normal, the closer still performed well enough for the Yankees to have a hard time seeing how limited the injury was.

"Our question was how much did it affect him?" The manager Aaron Boone said. "Because he spent a good deal of his time probably for a few days, but he shot the ball very well."

An occasional provider of social media, every time Boone took out his phone this winter, he saw how powerful Chapman's knee had become.

"I like following him on Instagram," said Boone. "So in the winter, I can see him jumping in his training and seeing him moving here now, he feels really good."

Chapman was joined on the mound by Luis Severino in the simulated game, played in front of about 20 supporters on a back lot at Steinbrenner Field four hours before a scheduled match against Pittsburgh.

Severino, the expected starter on March 28 against Baltimore for the first day of the opening day, grabbed at his belt a particularly injured striker at Stanton's belt.

"I have good hands," Severino said with a smile.

Severino threw 39 throwers in two innings, eliminating Stanton twice. Sanchez had the only shot – a single – off Severino, but also knocked out the right-handed.

Sanchez, who returns from his left shoulder surgery on November 8, will play his first spring training game on Friday night. He'll catch, said Boone. Sanchez averaged .186 with 18 homers and 53 RBIs in 89 games last year, making two outings in the disabled list due to a groin injury right.

CC Sabathia, 38, is due to take off from a spring mound for the first time this year on Friday. The southpaw, who retires after the season, had a stent inserted in December after finding a blockage in an artery. He also had chronic problems in the right knee that required several operations.

Coley Harvey of ESPN contributed to this report. The information provided by The Associated Press has been used in this report.