By Kevin Kernan

betances

Dellin Betances

TAMPA — He is not an astronaut, either, but Dellin Betances is ready to rocket forward in 2017, despite the harsh words from Yankees president Randy Levine after the franchise won its recent arbitration case against the star relief pitcher.

“Once I said everything I had to say, I left it behind me,’’ Betances told The Post at Steinbrenner Field before making his first appearance of the spring Wednesday night, pitching a scoreless inning against the Braves, striking out one and walking one.

“Being here with my teammates, I was quickly able to focus on baseball. Being here with the guys you go to battle with, that helps everything.’’

Asked if he talked to Levine since the arbitration hearing, Betances said, “No, I haven’t talked to anybody.’’

After that hearing, Levine said: “The agent took him to a case in effect like me saying, ‘I am not the president of the Yankees, I’m an astronaut.’ I am not an astronaut, and Dellin Betances isn’t a closer. This was an attempt to use a player to change the market” .

Betances will be paid $3 million this season; he wanted $5 million.

Betances reiterated he is going to be careful when he pitches this season.

“You have to be smart about the things you do,’’ he said. “We’ll see how it goes and try to do the best you can do and try to do the best you can in whatever role or situation they put you in.’’

Betances said he is going to see how he feels each day before deciding if he is ready to pitch.

Manager Joe Girardi said he believes Betances will be able to move forward and will be another rock for the manager to lean on again this season as Betances sets up Aroldis Chapman.

“I’ve watched his [bullpen sessions], his simulated game, they’ve been fabulous,’’ Girardi said.

Betances will leave soon for the World Baseball Classic, after another appearance for the Yankees on Saturday.

“He is further ahead because he knew he was leaving,’’ Girardi said.

Girardi then pointed to Betances’ velocity and the crispness of his pitches, adding, “His curveball was outstanding the day I saw him throw against hitters, it looked like he was in midseason form.’’

Girardi said he is not overly concerned with Betances taking the arbitration loss into the season.

“When Dellin gets out here he is Dellin,’’ Girardi said. “It’s an uncomfortable situation for everyone involved. It will pass. The competition starts and Dellin will be Dellin, and that’s all you worry about. As a player I was never good enough to go to a hearing, but it’s the one part of the negotiations that can get really ugly.

“There are a lot of great things that happen in this game for everyone involved, but that part can be ugly.’’

Said general manager Brian Cashman of the arbitration process, “At the end of the day, there is a reason why we don’t end up in that arena for a decade.’’

Betances has been a beast for the Yankees out of the bullpen. In 2014, he compiled 135 strikeouts in relief. In 2015, he had 131 and last season he put up 126 strikeouts. He is just the second reliever in Yankees history to post 100 K’s in three different seasons, joining Goose Gossage.

Betances said he is excited to be going to the WBC to represent the Dominican Republic.

“It’s No. 1 to represent your country to be united as one to do whatever you can do to help your country win,’’ Betances said. “I’ve never played in it, but I can just imagine how great it is going to be.’’

Betances must be careful not to overdo it because it is only March, no matter how far ahead he is in his early work.

“You have to be smart,’’ he said. “You can’t really try to do more than you are capable of doing because then you are not really helping your team.’’

The big right-hander always has been about team first, helping his team any way he can. That’s his orbit.