There was plenty of competition concerning Michael King’s most impressive throw of the night, but his best didn’t involve a ball.
In the ninth inning of a game the Yankees were trailing by a run, King was fed up and believed his PitchCom was malfunctioning.
He first believed he and catcher Ben Rortvedt were hitting the buttons that dictate the pitch call at the same time, and then he realized his device was not working at all.
In the era of the pitch clock, the righty was not sure if he could call timeout for a transmitter malfunction.
So in between pitches, he took out the device and hurled it toward — and over — the dugout.
“It took off like a frisbee and I saw it floating,” said King, who flung the device into the stands, where a fan then enjoyed pressing the buttons. “Luckily it wasn’t working.”
The Yankees eventually got the PitchCom back, and King’s arm was better used for valuable late-inning work in another shutdown appearance.
King pitched around a two-out walk to Cedric Mullins in the ninth before Aaron Judge’s homer tied the game in the bottom of the inning.
King returned for the 10th, which started and ended with ghost runner Adley Rutschman on second base.
“I just got to make sure that [Rutschman] doesn’t move over,” said King, who lowered his ERA to 1.95.
King used a changeup to strike out Anthony Santander, a sweeper to get Ryan Mountcastle and then got Adam Frazier to line out to a leaping Anthony Volpe.
“He’s such a weapon, and he was terrific tonight,” said manager Aaron Boone, who got quality work from Ron Marinaccio and Wandy Peralta, too, in the 6-5 victory.
Josh Donaldson is again getting close to being an option for the Yankees — and when ready, he will be more than an option.
Donaldson, whose rehab assignment “could be imminent,” Boone said, will have an everyday role when he is ready to contribute.
“Get there when we get there, but excited to get a good player back,” Boone said of Donaldson, who he said would be a regular in the lineup.
Donaldson played five games this season before he strained his right hamstring in early April. He began a rehab assignment April 18 but finished it that day, too, because he continued to feel tightness in his hamstring.
The third baseman slowly built back up before he suffered another (minor) setback, when he recently sliced his thumb while putting something together at his home for his daughter.
Donaldson took batting practice on the field Tuesday and could begin a second rehab assignment as early as Thursday.
Without Donaldson, DJ LeMahieu has been most often used at third base, which has freed up second base for Gleyber Torres. Oswaldo Cabrera and Isiah Kiner-Falefa also have seen some time at third base for a team that, when healthy, has a crowded infield.
Boone repeatedly has shown faith in Donaldson’s bat, which did not come around last year (.682 OPS).
Giancarlo Stanton (left hamstring strain) took batting practice on the field and is due for more testing before the Yankees decide his next step.
Stanton, who sustained the injury April 15, has been “feeling really good,” Boone said, as he ramps up baseball activities.
They hope to know when he can begin a rehab assignment by the end of the week.
“Making sure we’re fully healed and good to go,” Boone said.
Jose Trevino (left hamstring strain) ran on the field and will begin normal baseball activities “probably at some point this week,” Boone said.
The earliest Trevino could be activated from the 10-day IL is Sunday.
“I don’t know if [Sunday is] in play yet or not,” Boone said, “but he seems to be trending in a pretty good direction.”
Tommy Kahnle (right biceps tendinitis) has pitched two scoreless innings with Class-A Tampa and expects to pitch Thursday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
After that outing — which likely will include four outs — he hopes he can then be ready for his 2023 debut.
“I think my stuff is there. It’s ready to roll,” Kahnle said.
Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The New Jersey native was on the field prior to the game and chatted with Judge and Yankees executive Omar Minaya.
Minaya’s son, Justin, and Towns may be teammates on Team Dominican Republic for the FIBA World Cup this summer.
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