Marcus Stroman feels ready to return to the mound for the New York Yankees, able to manage pain in his left knee stemming from a torn ACL a decade ago.
“It’s something that I try not to put in my head because if you’re just thinking about that 24/7, you’re not in a good place,” the 34-year-old right-hander said Saturday, a day before he faces the Athletics.
Stroman has not pitched for the Yankees since allowing five runs in two-thirds of an inning against San Francisco on April 11. In three rehab appearances with Double-A Somerset that began June 11, Stroman was 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA.
He allowed five runs, 10 hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday against Detroit’s Erie Seawolves.
“I’m someone who definitely needs kind of the intensity to turn it on, so looking forward to kind of getting back out there,” Stroman said.
Stroman tore his ACL during a spring training fielding drill with Toronto on March 10, 2015, had surgery nine days later and returned to a big league mound that Sept. 19 when he beat the Yankees in a five-inning outing in the Bronx.
He credited Nikki Huffman, his personal trainer and Toronto’s head athletic trainer from 2018-19, with helping him manage the pain.
“It’s my ACL knee that I tore 10 years ago, so just figuring out how to deal with the soreness, the aching and then mechanically figuring out how to get away from kind of overdoing it into my knee.” Stroman said. “When I’m more efficient mechanically, my knee’s taking less stress.”
ADVERTISEMENT
–>
Stroman started the season 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in three starts. He rejoins a rotation missing ace Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery), AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil (strained right lat) and left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (strained right oblique).
“He’s got to command it. That’s the biggest thing, is being where he wants on the plate and having a presence on both sides of the plate — can’t just live one side,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “What is kind of the shapes of his pitches? Are is he crisp?”
Stroman was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 29 starts and one relief appearance over 154 2/3 innings last season, his most since 2021 with the Mets. Stroman struggled in the second half and did not pitch in the postseason, when the Yankees made their first World Series appearance since 2009.
Boone discounted the last minor league outing.
“It was a smoking hot day in Somerset for a veteran guy that’s pitching in Somerset for his third one,” Boone said.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
<!–>
recommended
Get more from Major League BaseballFollow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Major League Baseball Video Details Big Papi, A-Rod and Derek Jeter talked with Max Scherzer about his postseason run with the Toronto Blue Jays and the winning mentality that has powered multiple World Series appearances with three different teams. 1 MIN AGO・Major League Baseball・4:31
'The job is not finished' 😤 Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on advancing to the World Series | FOX Sports <!--> --> Video Details Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. discussed with the 'MLB on FOX' crew his thoughts of advancing to the World Series. 1 MIN AGO・mlb・4:49
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has led the Toronto Blue Jays to their first World Series in decades.Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in Game 7 of the ALCS on Monday night to officially clinch their first trip back to the World Series since 1993. Guerrero Jr., naturally, was named the MVP of the series.Guerrero, who was born in Canada when his dad was playing for the Montreal Expos, was incredibly emotional after the win was official.Guerrero, after starting out 0-for-7 in the first two games of the series, turned things around quickly to win the award. He finished going 10-of-26 with three home runs and three doubles in the seven-game series.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHis best outing came in Game 3, after the Blue Jays had already fallen into an 0-2 hole in the series at home. Guerrero Jr. went […]
Major League Baseball Video Details Watch the full trophy presentation ceremony as the Toronto Blue Jays celebrated their victory over the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS, clinching their first World Series berth since 1993. 42 MINS AGO・Major League Baseball・5:30
2025 season: 90-72, first in AL West, eliminated in the ALCSWith the Mariners eliminated by the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the ALCS, let's take a look at the season that was in Seattle, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRead more: MLB offseason previews 2025: What's next for the Phillies, Astros, Cubs and more?Things that went rightThere were so many things for Seattle to be proud of in a 2025 season that included the organization’s first AL West title since 2001 and the first postseason Game 7 in franchise history.The Mariners have had some legendary players, such as Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson, but the 2025 exploits of Cal Raleigh can compare to any individual campaign in team history. The 28-year-old set an MLB record for home runs by […]
Major League Baseball Video Details George Springer talked with Ken Rosenthal after the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a World Series berth behind Springers' go ahead three-run home against the Seattle Mariners. 1 MIN AGO・Major League Baseball・0:55
Major League Baseball Video Details Big Papi, A-Rod and Derek Jeter talked with Max Scherzer about his postseason run with the Toronto Blue Jays and the winning mentality that has powered multiple World Series appearances with three different teams. 1 MIN AGO・Major League Baseball・4:31
'The job is not finished' 😤 Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on advancing to the World Series | FOX Sports <!--> --> Video Details Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. discussed with the 'MLB on FOX' crew his thoughts of advancing to the World Series. 1 MIN AGO・mlb・4:49
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has led the Toronto Blue Jays to their first World Series in decades.Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in Game 7 of the ALCS on Monday night to officially clinch their first trip back to the World Series since 1993. Guerrero Jr., naturally, was named the MVP of the series.Guerrero, who was born in Canada when his dad was playing for the Montreal Expos, was incredibly emotional after the win was official.Guerrero, after starting out 0-for-7 in the first two games of the series, turned things around quickly to win the award. He finished going 10-of-26 with three home runs and three doubles in the seven-game series.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHis best outing came in Game 3, after the Blue Jays had already fallen into an 0-2 hole in the series at home. Guerrero Jr. went […]
Major League Baseball Video Details Watch the full trophy presentation ceremony as the Toronto Blue Jays celebrated their victory over the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS, clinching their first World Series berth since 1993. 42 MINS AGO・Major League Baseball・5:30
2025 season: 90-72, first in AL West, eliminated in the ALCSWith the Mariners eliminated by the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the ALCS, let's take a look at the season that was in Seattle, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRead more: MLB offseason previews 2025: What's next for the Phillies, Astros, Cubs and more?Things that went rightThere were so many things for Seattle to be proud of in a 2025 season that included the organization’s first AL West title since 2001 and the first postseason Game 7 in franchise history.The Mariners have had some legendary players, such as Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson, but the 2025 exploits of Cal Raleigh can compare to any individual campaign in team history. The 28-year-old set an MLB record for home runs by […]
Major League Baseball Video Details George Springer talked with Ken Rosenthal after the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a World Series berth behind Springers' go ahead three-run home against the Seattle Mariners. 1 MIN AGO・Major League Baseball・0:55
Be the first to leave a comment