Yerry De los Santos is making progress.
The rehabbing Yankees reliever said he felt good after throwing a 20-pitch bullpen session on Saturday at Citi Field.
De los Santos has been out since June 18 with right elbow discomfort.
“I’ve dealt with something very similar in the past, and in the past I’ve tried to work through it and it hasn’t really ended up well for me,” De los Santos said Saturday through a translator.
“This time, it was the same sensation — it’s kind of like not being able to finish your pitches — so this time, I wanted to be smart and get ahead of it early.”
Saturday’s work served as another step for De los Santos, who previously threw a “touch and feel” bullpen session, according to manager Aaron Boone.
The Yankees will “continue to build” De los Santos up, said Boone, who said the right-hander could face hitters in a live bullpen session next but did not have a timeline for when.
De los Santos, 27, has a 1.80 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 20 innings over three separate stints in the majors this season.
“I’ve got to go day-by-day, see how I feel tomorrow, and then talk with the trainers to see what would be the date, or an idea, of when I would be coming back,” De los Santos said Saturday. “But I do feel better.”
A FIRST FOR BELLINGER
Saturday marked Cody Bellinger’s first start at first base this season.
Using Bellinger there allowed Boone to load up the lineup with left-handed bats against Mets right-hander Frankie Montas. Trent Grisham started in center field, while Jasson Domínguez was in left field and Ben Rice operated as the designated hitter.
“It gives you that added flexibility just to do some things,” Boone said.
Bellinger frequently played first base during prior stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs, but he has primarily rotated in the three outfield spots during his first season with the Yankees.
The versatile veteran made three appearances at the position before Saturday.
The righty-hitting Paul Goldschmidt, who did not start Saturday, and Rice have received the bulk of the work at first base.
MORE ON YARBROUGH
On Friday, Boone said left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (right oblique strain) was getting close to playing catch.
On Saturday, the manager offered a bit more from Yarbrough’s perspective.
“Talking to him yesterday, he feels like he’s finally getting over the hump,” Boone said.
Boone did not know when Yarbrough would resume throwing, but he reiterated Saturday that he thought it would be “pretty soon.”
Yarbrough is 3-1 with a 3.90 ERA in 16 appearances, including eight starts. He landed on the injured list on June 20.
