Bronx, NY – Michael Pineda will remain in the minor leagues for the time being as he continues his recovery from shoulder surgery, with the New York Yankees optioning the right-hander to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre on Sunday after reinstating him from the 60-day disabled list.
Pineda, an AL All-Star selection as a rookie with Seattle in 2011, has yet to pitch for the Yankees since the team acquired him from the Mariners in January of 2012. The 24-year-old underwent a procedure to repair an anterior labral tear in May of last season.
The 6-foot-7 Dominican, who went 9-10 with a 3.74 earned run average and logged 173 strikeouts in 28 starts with the Mariners in 2011, recently had the 30-day window on his minor league rehab assignment expire. Pineda posted a 2-0 record with a 2.82 ERA over 22 1/3 innings while making five starts between three of the Yankees' affiliates.
To make room for Pineda on the 40-man roster, New York transferred outfielder Curtis Granderson to the 60-day DL. The injured slugger is not expected to return until later this summer from a fractured left pinkie finger he suffered in a game at Tampa Bay on May 24.
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