Derek Jeter will return to the New York Yankees lineup Thursday afternoon against the Kansas City Royals, ending a long rehab that stretch back to the playoffs last year.
The Yankees had planned to keep Jeter in Triple A Scranton for a little longer, but an injury and the chance of inclement weather brought the captain back to the Yankees lineup sooner than expected.
“After the game last night, after [Travis] Hafner got hurt, we looked at the weather patterns and I just decided to make the move for today,” General Manager Brian Cashman told ESPN New York’s Ian O’Connor. “Derek was scheduled to DH in Scranton, so I figured, he could DH and sit around in the rain in Scranton, or he can DH and sit around in the rain in the Bronx. We chose the Bronx.”
Derek Jeter will return after 272 days away from the Yankees. He broke his leg in the American League Championship Series in October, joining the team only for a short stay at spring training.
The team has not yet decided whether to use Jeter as designated hitter or shortstop.
“We’ll talk about it with [Manager] Joe [Girardi],” Cashman said, “and see what we decide to do [about using him in the field].”
Jeter started his rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, going 1-for-9 with four walks and two strikeouts in four games with the Railriders. On Wedensday he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
The Yankees are looking forward to the return of Derek Jeter to the lineup. The team has faced a spate of injuries, including third baseman Alex Rodriguez, first baseman Mark Teixeira, outfielder Curtis Granderson, and first baseman/third baseman Kevin Youkilis. They are also looking at the possibility of a lengthy suspension for Rodriguez due to his involvement in Biogenesis,a South Florida clinic accused of providing performance-enhancing drugs to players.
Derek Jeter will return to the Yankees for a 1:05 pm game against the Kansas City Royals.