ANAHEIM -- Yankees reporters were in the visiting dugout at Angels Stadium waiting for the start of Joe Girardi's pre-game interview Monday when the manager appeared from the clubhouse with a special guest and proceeded to walk him out to the left field bullpen to see pitching coach Larry Rothschild.
Girardi and Rothschild spent the next 10-15 minutes catching up with James Kaprielian, the Yankees' top pitching prospect until the right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery on April 18.
Kaprielian, who lives in Southern California and made a short drive to the ballpark from his home in Irvine, is upbeat despite having a second consecutive lost season from a development standpoint.