Derek Jeter’s spring training is over — at least the portion of spring training with the Yankees’ big league squad.
New York said Thursday Jeter will be limited to playing in minor league games and that he will be kept out of big-league action for the remained days of spring training. By keeping Jeter out of major league action, the Yankees will be able to backdate his injury if their captain needs to start the season on the disabled list.
“I think we need to preserve the ability to backdate him in the event that he’s not going to make it,” general manager Brian Cashman told nj.com.
If Jeter does land on the disabled list, the earliest he would be available to play would be April 6 at Detroit. He would miss the first four games of the season, including the season-opening series against Boston at Yankee Stadium.
“My goal is opening day,” Jeter said Thursday night. “It doesn’t change. Nothing has changed from my point of view.”
The 38-year-old Jeter had a cortisone injection in his surgically repaired left ankle on Wednesday. He fractured the ankle in Game one of the American League Championship Series in October, and had surgery a week later.
And on Thursday manager Joe Girardi said the next few days will be crucial in determining if Jeter starts the season on the DL.
“Our hope is that we can get him out (Friday), get him through some work, and he feels good. Then we can make a decision about when we want to play him.”