The Yankees’ truncated season got off to a rough start this weekend during batting practice — one of their pitchers took a baseball to the noggin by one their hardest-hitting sluggers.

Righty Masahiro Tanaka was tossing to Giancarlo Stanton Saturday at Yankees Stadium during the team’s first summer workout before they officially play ball later this month. During one of his pitches, Stanton hit a line drive right back at Tanaka … and it nailed him.

The ball struck Tanaka in the head, knocking off his hat and sending him flying to the ground. Stanton immediately regretted it as he crouched in disgust and worry. The training staff rushed out to attend to their pitcher, and were eventually able to get him to his feet.

As bad as the hit looked on camera, it would appear the guy’s gonna be alright — which is kind of a miracle. The team says, “RHP Masahiro Tanaka was hit in the head with a line drive during today’s sim game. He is currently alert, responsive and walking under his own power.” They added that he would undergo further evaluations/testing at a nearby hospital.

Here’s hoping Tanaka comes out the other end good as new — he’s one of their starting pitchers, and the Yanks need as much depth as they can get this year.



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