TAMPA — Saturday proved one for the dreamers at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Most Valuable Player Gary Sanchez?
Rookie of the Year (sometime between 2017 and 2019) Gleyber Torres?
Cy Young Award winner Masahiro Tanaka?
The last one sits closest to reality, given that Tanaka finished seventh in last year’s American League vote that salutes the junior circuit’s best pitcher. And that Tanaka’s performance on this day stood out as particularly elite, enhancing an already impressive spring.
The right-hander dominated an admittedly underwhelming Tigers lineup, throwing four perfect innings and striking out seven — including the first six batters — while walking none, as the Yankees prevailed, 7-1, to raise their Grapefruit League record to an MLB-best 13-3.