Stephen Ridings’ season is finally underway, as the righty began a rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset on Saturday and threw a scoreless inning in their 8-2 loss to Portland.
“I went out there with the intention of trying to get guys out and compete and I did that,” Ridings told the media at TD Bank Ballpark after the outing. “I can get away with a little more down here in Double-A with those high fastballs, but overall, it felt good. Felt natural, just like the last time I was out there; some adrenaline, some excitement.”
Entering in the seventh with Portland up 6-2, the righty threw 11 of his 13 pitches for strikes, getting a pop-up and two strikeouts – one looking, one swinging – while allowing a two-out single. He got up to 98 MPH on his heater, and also had good success with his breaking balls.
“I was happy. The cutter got a swing and miss, the slider got a weak pop-up, and I got the freeze on the curveball, so I think they played,” he said. “I was able to control where they were going for the most part, which is what I’m going for right now rather than them being super nasty. That’ll come back in time.”
Ridings has been on the 60-day IL since the beginning of spring straining due to a right shoulder impingement he first felt ramping up this winter, and he was excited to finally get out there for the first time in a game situation in more than a year.
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“It was exciting. It’s been probably 13 months since my last game appearance. Regardless of how the day went, it was just good to be out there,” Ridings said. “There were days where I didn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I always knew I’d be back just as good as I was before in some capacity, whether now or the beginning of next season; you just keep pressing on, and as soon as something clicks and you see that light, you put it in a different gear and get going.”
Ridings made his MLB debut last August, and allowed just one earned run in five innings over five appearances for the Yankees as a COVID replacement, but he went on the IL just a week after being sent back to Triple-A and did not return.
The Yankees added him to the 40-man roster officially this offseason with hopes of Ridings being an important depth piece for their bullpen, but instead, he found himself with six months of down time in Florida rehabbing from injury.
“I was in good company when I was working out with (Yankees Director of Player Health and Performance Eric) Cressey, and in Tampa, it was more 100 percent focus on everything baseball,” he said. “I asked to be put in a hotel with a kitchen so I could cook and eat a little cleaner, so I spent a lot of time cooking and doing dishes, honestly, but it was good; I’m a creature of habit and love routine, so I can’t complain.”
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Ridings’ rehab clock won’t expire before the end of the season, and after missing six months due to the injury, it’s uncertain whether or not this rehab assignment is a ramp up to be a postseason option, or simply a chance to get back into the flow ahead of 2023.
“That’s not up to me,” he said. “I’m going to do everything I can to put myself in the best situation to force their hand; if I do, great, and if not, then I know I’m doing everything I can. They haven’t given me any clear indication of what they’re thinking for me, so I’m just taking it one day at a time.”
And as happy as he was to be back, and knowing that he was going to have “the first clean inning after the starter left,” the Long Island native was just as happy to begin his rehab in Somerset, where he started the 2021 season and spent the first two months.
“I knew the starter had about 90 pitches, so I just kept track throughout the game, and it felt completely natural to go out in the bullpen and hang out with the guys,” he said. “Good to pitch here on a Saturday with a big crowd, too; my family is in town, so a lot of perks to being here in New Jersey.”
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