Derek Jeter Is '100 Percent Healed'; Could Make First Game Appearance Saturday
JUPITER, Fla. (CBSNewYork/AP) — The captain is finally coming back.
Derek Jeter could be making his first game appearance Saturday since breaking an ankle last October in the AL championship series.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi made the announcement Friday, when New York lost to the Miami Marlins 6-1. He said he planned to talk with Jeter on Saturday morning.
"I won't be giving him any must gos and those of those type of things," Girardi said. "We'll see how he feels."
Girardi said Jeter will be the designated hitter until he's ready to return to shortstop. The Yankees play Atlanta in Tampa on Saturday, which also could be the first game appearance for Mariano Rivera since injuring a knee last May.
"Obviously, you watch Derek very closely when he's out there," Girardi said.
The shortstop went to Charlotte, N.C., Thursday for a scheduled visit to see Dr. Robert Anderson, the surgeon who operated on his ankle last October.
"He said everything's healed," Jeter said. "100 percent healed."
On Friday, Nathan Eovaldi allowed one run in four innings and John Maine followed with two scoreless innings for Miami.
Maine, who hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2010, is competing for the fifth spot in the Marlins' rotation.
"He came in, ate up a couple of innings and got some outs. That's exactly what we've been talking about all spring," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said.
New York starter Adam Warren allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. In his previous two spring training starts, Warren gave up one run and one hit in five innings.
Miami's Adeiny Hechavarria had two hits and two RBIs. Donovan Solano and Rob Brantly each had two hits and scored twice. Matt Downs had an RBI double and a sacrifice fly.
Melky Mesa had two hits and scored a run, and Thomas Neal had an RBI double for the Yankees, who had five hits overall.
Eovaldi was part of Miami's rotation last season after being acquired from the Dodgers in the trade that sent Hanley Ramirez to Los Angeles.
"I was breaking all the rules," said Eovaldi, who allowed four hits and three walks. "I was walking the leadoff guy, giving up two-out hits or walks."
New York left the bases loaded in the second, when third baseman Downs made a diving, backhanded grab of Brett Gardner's grounder and stepped on third for the final out.
NOTES: Gardner led off the game with a walk and has reached base safely in all nine games. ... Girardi said RHP David Roberston was "feeling fine" and cleared to resume throwing. Robertson had shoulder stiffness after sleeping on his arm Monday night. ... The Marlins optioned LHP Scott Maine to Triple-A New Orleans of the Pacific Coast League, and RHP Arquimedes Caminero and INF Zach Cox to Double-A Jacksonville of the Southern League. RHP Michael Brady, LHP Adam Conley, LHP Brian Flynn, LHP Raudel Lazo, INF Danny Black, INF Derek Dietrich and OF Kevin Mattison were reassigned the to minor league camp, and RHP Michael Wuertz was released.
Finally, some MUCH-NEEDED good news out of Yankees camp. Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...
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