NEW YORK — Yankees reliever Dellin Betances started his Saturday morning by getting a painful cortisone shot with a long needle.

“It hurt,” the four-time All-Star righty said. “I didn’t look.”

This shot was administered to once-and-for-all flush out of shoulder inflammation that shut down Betances in March and now probably will delay his season debut at least until June.

What’s really interesting about Betances’ ordeal this week – his setback in Tampa, return to New York and second MRI – is Friday night’s revealing that he’s been pitching with a bone spur in his throwing shoulder since high school that never has affected his pitching.

More interesting, GM Brian Cashman said on Friday night that the Yankees have known about the bone spur since Betances had an MRI before signing his first pro contract as a teen in 2006 … and Betances saying Saturday morning that he first heard of it on Friday night.

“I guess from the previous MRIs I’ve always had it,” Betances said Saturday. “I didn’t know about it until now. But, yeah, I’ve always had it. I always come into spring and I feel, I guess .. a little stiff, But for me it usually gets better and this time it wasn’t. That’s pretty much what happened. “

Why did the Yankees never tell Betances about his bone spur?

“He hasn’t had the inflammation before,” Cashman said. “On the various testing we’ve done since we signed him … (After) drafting (Betances) I gave him a $1 million to sign rather than go on to college, and you do a physical and there’s an MRI, and right away that was (a bone spur that was) an incidental incident, meaning it’s not affecting him.

"There is something there. It’s inconsequential, non-symptomatic. He hasn’t had to deal with this. It’s had no affect on his game or pitching in anyway shape or form. The various times we imaged him, if it was for insurance or whatever reason, it’s always been there, but it’s never been something that’s caused a problem.”

Until now, as the inflammation is where the bone spur is. Doctors still think Betances doesn’t need to be concerned about his bone spur.

Heading into Friday’s MRI, Betances was worried that his issue was worse.

It wasn’t. He still only has inflammation, and the cortisone shot supposedly will be the cure all.

“Obviously there’s relief just because there’s nothing structurally wrong and I know with this shot that in three weeks, with rest … I know everything will be right,” Betances said.

Heading into Friday’s MRI, Betances was worried his issue was worse.

It wasn’t. He still only has inflammation, and the cortisone shot supposedly will be the cure all.

“Obviously there’s relief just because there’s nothing structurally wrong and I know with this shot that in three weeks, with rest … I know everything will be right,” Betances said.

Betances will be shut down for three weeks, then resume a throwing program that should lead to him being off the injured list in another five weeks .. sometime in early-to-mid-June.

“I’m excited to help the team out and finish this season,” Betances said.

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.