Derek Jeter: thumbs up after workout
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
Yes, it was only batting practice on a back field in Tampa, Fla.
But according to reports, Derek Jeter was stinging the ball to all fields on Monday morning. It was the Yankee captain's first on-field hitting session since September, when leg problems shut him down for the season.
'Everything is good so far, knock on wood,' Jeter told newsandtalking.blogspot.com following the session at the Yankees' minor-league complex.
Just a day after the Super Bowl and 16 days before the reporting date for Yankees position players, Jeter took 39 swings in five rounds of batting practice. He also fielded 34 ground balls at his usual shortstop position.
Until Monday, Jeter had reserved his baseball activity to fielding grounders from in front of the infield dirt and hitting in the batting cages - work he'd begun at Tampa on Jan. 20.
'My job is to be ready to play,' said Jeter, who was limited to 17 games last season due to two left ankle fractures and associated leg injuries. He turns 40 in June, but isn't concerned about those who wonder about his ability to return to form.
'I remember when I was 35, everyone said, 'That was it. He can't play anymore. End of [his] career.' So, it's really nothing different,' Jeter said.
'Eventually, somebody is going to be right, you know what I mean? You're going to run out of numbers.'
The Yankees have re-signed defensive-oriented shortstop Brendan Ryan to bolster the position. Due to his ankle injury, Jeter missed just his second opening day last season in 19 years in pinstripes.
'This off-season is like a normal off-season,' Jeter said. 'I'm four months ahead of where I was last year.
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