When Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova finally steps back onto a pitcher's mound, it will have been a long time since he had previously done so.
Nova, 28, will have likely missed over a year due to a severe elbow injury, the same one which forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery last season. Nova isn't expected to return until sometime between May and July this summer, and it's likely even when he does it will be with much caution.
Still, the veteran is managing to stay positive as the Yankees' 2015 campaign grows nearer, and had nothing but good things to say about his current recovery when asked about it Tuesday.
"I am feeling great," Nova told The New York Daily News' Wayne Coffey. "[The rehab] is going good. I just have to keep the process going."
As mentioned earlier, exactly when Nova will be able to put on pinstripes again is presently a mystery, and it seems one can only guess the approximate date for the moment. It usually takes around 9-12 months for hurlers like Nova to get back from Tommy John, a rather vague timetable.
Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild appears to be looking favorably at Nova's progress, but did acknowledge it will still be a while before he can compete again.
"He's doing fine, progressing through all the steps he has to, [but] he still has a ways to go," Rothschild said. "When he gets to be where he's supposed to be in a game, that's when we'll have a better idea."
While Nova is out, veteran lefty Chris Capuano is expected to occupy his spot in the rotation, probably serving in the no.5 role. In front of him, presumably, will be Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia and Nathan Eovaldi in that order, each of whom is considered a question mark.
Yet Nova is confident that group can contend, and believes the Yankees are strong as they head into spring training.
"We have enough pitching. We have good starters. The bullpen is great," he said. "The team is in great shape."
"I am feeling great," Nova told The New York Daily News' Wayne Coffey. "[The rehab] is going good. I just have to keep the process going."
As mentioned earlier, exactly when Nova will be able to put on pinstripes again is presently a mystery, and it seems one can only guess the approximate date for the moment. It usually takes around 9-12 months for hurlers like Nova to get back from Tommy John, a rather vague timetable.
Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild appears to be looking favorably at Nova's progress, but did acknowledge it will still be a while before he can compete again.
"He's doing fine, progressing through all the steps he has to, [but] he still has a ways to go," Rothschild said. "When he gets to be where he's supposed to be in a game, that's when we'll have a better idea."
While Nova is out, veteran lefty Chris Capuano is expected to occupy his spot in the rotation, probably serving in the no.5 role. In front of him, presumably, will be Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia and Nathan Eovaldi in that order, each of whom is considered a question mark.
Yet Nova is confident that group can contend, and believes the Yankees are strong as they head into spring training.
"We have enough pitching. We have good starters. The bullpen is great," he said. "The team is in great shape."
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)