TAMPA — Whenever the Yankees tell Masahiro Tanaka it’s time to work an exhibition game, he is ready to give his right elbow a very big test.
“Gradually, I have been able to build up so far,’’ Tanaka said via a translator following a 30-pitch bullpen session Wednesday morning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “Whenever they want me, I will go.’’
Tanaka suffered a small tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament last July and it was decided to rehab the injury instead of going for Tommy John surgery.
The bullpen session was Tanaka’s fourth of the spring and followed a batting-practice session. He said to check with pitching coach Larry Rothschild for his next assignment and that he wasn’t bored by not having faced hitters from another team.
“Really not thinking about that at all,’’ Tanaka said. “I am more concerned about how my body is and how well I can locate my pitches right now. I haven’t given it any thought.’’
Stephen Drew started 31 games at second base for the Yankees last season and has been working out exclusively at the position in spring training. Nevertheless, a learning curve remains for the former shortstop, who committed a fielding error in Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the Phillies at GMS Field and later was saved a throwing error when first baseman Mark Teixeira scooped a ball out of the dirt.
“There are different angles,’’ said Drew, who missed all of last spring training after turning down a $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Red Sox. “I am going to work through spring training to get used to it.’’
This is the first time since 2011 Drew has been a spring-training regular. He had a right ankle injury in 2012 and a concussion in 2013.
“I got to trust my talent, I know it’s there,’’ said Drew, who batted .150 in 46 games for the Yankees last season after he was acquired in late July from the Red Sox.
Nathan Eovaldi said at the beginning of camp he wanted to work on the split-fingered fastball he started throwing last year with the Marlins. Wednesday he showed the Phillies splits in his Yankees debut.
“I threw four or five today and everything was good,’’ the right-hander said after giving up a run and two hits in two frames during a 3-1 Phillies victory.
Andrew Miller and Didi Gregorius also debuted for the Yankees.
Miller worked a scoreless inning, fanning two. Gregorius played five innings at short and went 0-for-1 with a walk.
CC Sabathia is scheduled to throw batting practice for the first time Thursday.
“No complaints. I am looking forward to facing hitters,’’ said Sabathia, who is coming back from right-knee surgery.
Carlos Beltran is expected to be in the lineup for the first time Friday but didn’t know if he would be the designated hitter or play right field. He also wasn’t sure what game he would play in.
The Yankees have two games scheduled Friday: against the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., in the afternoon and against the Pirates at night at GMS Field.
“They told me Friday, they didn’t say where,’’ said Beltran, who is being brought along slowly after right elbow surgery last year.
According to Joe Girardi, infielder Brendan Ryan “felt a little sore’’ after Tuesday’s workout and has been backed off a bit.
Ryan, who hasn’t taken BP on the field yet, is suffering from a back muscle problem.