TAMPA, Fla. -- Domingo Germán represented an unknown as the Yankees prepared for camp, some 16 months removed from his most recent appearance in a Major League game. There was scant information on his readiness; as part of his suspension for violating baseball’s domestic violence policy, the right-hander was barred from working out at any team facilities.

As such, manager Aaron Boone said that he entered the spring expecting signs of rust with the 28-year-old, who is vying with right-hander Deivi García and others for the club’s final rotation spot. Instead, the Yankees have seen nothing but excellence, as Germán fired four sharp innings in Monday’s 4-2 Grapefruit League victory over the Phillies to extend a solid spring thus far.

“I think the key has been the physical preparation coming into camp,” Germán said through an interpreter. “I think it was very important to bring that focus into these outings and being able to make adjustments during the game.”

Making his third start of the spring, Germán showcased good velocity and an effective changeup to strike out six, limiting Philadelphia to three hits and one walk over four scoreless frames. In nine scoreless spring innings, Germán has scattered five hits while striking out 13 against one walk.

“Domingo, man, I feel like he’s picking up right where we left off in '19,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. “The breaking pitches are sharp. He’s got command of the zone. He’s pounding it with good velocity on the fastball.”

With Gerrit Cole, Corey Kluber, Jameson Taillon and Jordan Montgomery entrenched among the Bombers’ starting rotation, Boone offered modest expectations regarding Germán, who led New York with 18 victories before a September 2019 incident resulted in an 81-game suspension, which meant Germán could not pitch in the '19 postseason and all of the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

Based upon his spring performance, Germán seems to be in position to roll the clock back, perhaps serving in a larger role than many had anticipated. Germán seems not to have missed a beat from his 2019 performance, when he pitched to a 4.03 ERA (111 ERA+) and led the Majors with an .818 winning percentage.

“Since his first bullpen and every step of the way, it’s just been really, really sharp,” Boone said. “This is a really good experienced pitcher. That's what he's shown us every step of the way, to go along with a really good three-pitch mix. I maybe expected there to be a little more rust there, and I haven't seen that so far.”

Germán said that he trained his body to pitch at least 150 innings this year -- he tossed 143 frames in 2019 -- and believes his mechanics and pitches are sharper than they were two years ago.

“I see myself as a normal baseball player,” Germán said. “I just want to keep doing my job and try to win a spot in the rotation. It doesn't matter which one it is.”