The New York Yankees are close to getting their captain, shortstop Derek Jeter back from his fractured ankle suffered during the disastrous 2012 American League Championship Series sweep at the hands of the Detroit Tigers.
In his second rehab start with the Triple A Scranton Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders Jeter was 1-for-2 with two walks. Rumors have flown that Jeter could be back this week, but when asked the captain did not divulge anything. "I don't answer hypotheticals. I'm playing here tomorrow. That's all I know."
Jeter played shortstop for five innings last night for Scranton, going 0-for-2 with a walk, a run, as well as three defensive plays made. He is expected to be off tonight before playing again Wednesday, although the Yankees have yet to announce an expected return date to the MLB club.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, "He's ready when he's ready," Joe Girardi said. "You have to see how he's moving around, how he's responding physically to playing every day. You have to build him up - he has to be able to play more than five innings once every three days."
When pressed for an actual date Girardi was firm. "I'm not saying anything about when he's going to be here. I just don't like to put a date on it. I don't ever put a time limit on it. I don't think it's fair to the player and I don't think it's fair to us," he added. "If you say a player is supposed to be here on this date and he's not ready, it becomes a whole other story."
For his part, Jeter seems to think he is prepared to play every day, saying he's done a lot of work to get ready. "I'm pretty sure, at some point, I'll get balls hit to me. ... I've done a lot," he said. "It's not like I just came off the couch and started playing. I did a lot in Florida. I think I tested it."
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