New York Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson is slated to return to the lineup Friday night against the San Diego Padres, giving the Yankees a needed boost.
It was announced by general manager Brian Cashman that Granderson, who avoided another possible injury during a collision at home plate in a Double-A rehab game, will be activated from the disabled list Friday when the Yankees visit the San Diego Padres for a weekend series.
Granderson has been sidelined since a May 24th pitch from Cesar Ramos struck him in the hand, breaking his knuckle on his left pinkie.
After drawing a walk in the seventh inning, the outfielder attempted to score from first on a Slade Heathcott double, and collided with catcher Brian Jeroloman at the plate. Granderson insisted after the game that he had no intention to mow over the catcher, and that it was just an accidental play.
"I was trying to get in position to slide on the far side of the plate and the ball ended up on the far side of the plate," Granderson said. "At that point I had nowhere to go. I wasn't trying to run him over."
The ball ended up getting past Jeroloman, and Granderson was able to step on home to plate a run.
Granderson, 32, isn't worried about the plate collision and is just excited to be getting back to the Yankees lineup.
"It's the day I've been waiting for.," Granderson told MLB.com. "I'm excited."
Granderson will return to a lineup that now includes Alfonso Soriano via a trade with the Cubs and Derek Jeter, who recently returned from injury. The Yankees are looking for Soriano, Jeter and Granderson to provide protection in the lineup for second baseman Robinson Cano.
Granderson played in five rehab games for Trenton and went 4-for-15 with a triple and three walks.
The Yankees are looking for Granderson to stay healthy as he was also hurt by getting hit by a pitch back in his first spring training game. Granderson was struck by a pitch from J.A. Happ and ended up fracturing his right wrist. He's only played in eight games in the 2013 campaign after hitting .232 with a career-high 43 homers while adding 106 RBIs in 2012. The Yankees are looking for Granderson's power to help the team turn around in the division.
The Yankees currently sit eight games out of first in the American League East, now controlled by the Boston Red Sox. The Bronx Bombers are fourth in the division with a 56-51 overall record.
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