Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Is Jeter ready for short?
By Jason Catania
The last time anyone saw Derek Jeter playing shortstop in a game when it counted, he was writhing in pain with a fractured left ankle as the New York Yankees were mere days from being swept in the ALCS by the Detroit Tigers. The game won't count per se, but Jeter is ready to return to the field and his familiar position.
The 38-year-old Yankees captain, who is coming back from October surgery, returned to game action Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, per Adam Berry of MLB.com. Jeter has played in two spring games as the designated hitter, but he'll be back at short Wednesday, writes the Post's George King. MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports that manager Joe Girardi indicated Jeter will likely get about half the game in the field.
Jeter had surgery to fix the ankle on Oct. 20, and he's expected to be ready to play on Opening Day, April 1, at home against the Boston Red Sox. With the club already in a precarious state following spring injuries to Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira, any more injury news would put the Yankees in a very difficult spot to start the season, especially since Jeter's backup is error-prone Eduardo Nunez.
