TAMPA, FLA. (AP) - Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has resumed on-field hitting after being shut down last month by left ankle soreness.
Jeter took 32 swings in batting practice Wednesday at the Yankees’ minor league complex. The 38-year-old superstar also ran for the second consecutive day.
The Yankees captain hasn’t played since appearing in a minor league spring training game as a designated hitter on March 23, when the ankle he broke in Game 1 of the ALCS last October bothered him while running.
While not going at full speed, Jeter looked smooth going three times from first to third and three times from third to first on the grass just behind the infield dirt. The 13-time All-Star also fielded 45 grounders at short, and threw to first base for the first time.
Jeter was placed on the disabled list March 31 and there’s still no timetable on when he will be activated.
Outfielder Curtis Granderson, recovering from a broken right forearm, could resume throwing on Thursday. He had follow-up X-rays Tuesday.
“Everything is looking good,” Granderson said.
Granderson says he has not started swinging a bat yet, but hopes that later this week he could be cleared to swing a fungo bat.
The slugger, who led New York with 43 homers last season, was hit by a pitch from Toronto’s J.A. Happ in his first at-bat of spring training on Feb. 24. Granderson could rejoin the Yankees next month.
Pitcher Michael Pineda threw batting practice Tuesday for the first time since right shoulder surgery that sidelined him all of last season.
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