Tampa, Fl. – Famed New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte will see some action in the teams final spring training game against the New York Mets today. Pettitte will pitch one live inning since his return from more than a year of retirement. The left-hander called it a big step in his return after his workout Tuesday.
Pettitte agreed to a one year minor league contract with the Yankees in January ending his very brief retirement.
Pettitte threw his second simulated game Saturday, and talked on the phone with pitching coach Larry Rothschild following a 25-pitch bullpen session Monday. Rothschild is with the team on a four-game road trip to Florida’s east coast.
Pettitte told reporters,
“I bounced back pretty good after that last one, so we feel like an inning would be good tomorrow. I realized I feel good enough to pitch.”
Pettitte would get a $2.5 million, one-year contract if his return to the majors is successful and he is added to the team’s roster. Pettitte last played in 2010, when he went 11-3 and was an All-Star. He is 240-138 lifetime with the Yankees and a brief stint in Houston.
For many years, Pettitte was among the Yankees’ most dependable pitchers. He is part of the “Core Four” which include himself, shortstop Derek Jeter, Catcher Jorge Posada and Closer Mariano Rivera. Together the four have four World Series Rings won with the Yankees. The four of them also came up through the Yankees farm system.
Andy Pettitte has one of the most impressive postseason records in the history of the game. He is 19-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 42 career postseason starts.
