SEATTLE (AP) -Roger Clemens likely will make his first minor league start for the New York Yankees on Friday at Class-A Tampa.
Yankees manager Joe Torre said before Sunday’s game in Seattle that Clemens will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday in Tampa. If all goes well, will probably make his first start on Friday against Fort Myers.
It has yet to be determined whether Clemens will make two or three minor league starts before joining the Yankees’ rotation. Clemens, who agreed to a $28,000,022, one-year contract on May 6, is scheduled to arrive at the Yankees’ Tampa training complex Monday.
Torre expects that Clemens will move up to a higher minor league level for his second start.
“He feels pretty good from what I understand, but again, he needs to get his legs under him right now,” Torre said. “The arm is one thing, but the legs (are) a big contributor to the way he pitches.”
When he rejoined the Houston Astros last year, Clemens agreed to a contract on May 31, made three minor league starts and returned to the majors on June 22.
Clemens would be in line to pitch next at Double-A Trenton, against Portland on May 23, then could pitch at Triple-A Scranton against Toledo on May 28. That would put him on track to make his return to the Yankees on June 2 at Boston’s Fenway Park.
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