If the Yankees enter the Shohei Otani sweepstakes after this season, Brian Cashman can thank caffeine.
The Yankees general manager trekked the 18 hours to Sapporo, Japan, to get a firsthand look Thursday morning at the dual-threat player on every MLB executive’s mind. But Cashman wasn’t betraying any thoughts about the 23-year-old people have compared with Babe Ruth for his ability to pitch and hit.
“No comment. Sapporo is a beautiful city,” Cashman said after watching Otani pitch for the Nippon-Ham Fighters, according to a reporter covering baseball in Japan.
Starting in front of scouts from 15 MLB teams, including Cashman, Otani gave up four runs on three hits and three walks in just 3 1/3 innings of work. The right-hander, returning from ankle and thigh injuries, was far from being in midseason pitching form after making only one other start this season — in which he fared even worse, allowing four runs on three walks and two hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Cashman, sitting right behind home plate, was caught on camera letting out a big yawn during the game.