Derek Jeter has been cleared to start baseball activity after recovering from a broken ankle, leading the New York Yankees shortstop to aim for an Opening Day return.
The 38-year-old Yankees captain broke his ankle during a disappointing playoff run for the Yankees that ended in the AL Championship series against the Detroit Tigers. Jeter spent the past few months going through rehab to get back to the field.
During that time, Jeter made headlines when photographers caught him looking much larger after apparent weight gain during his recovery. But now that Jeter has been cleared to play, his focus is on returning to form.
Derek Jeter saw his career resurge in 2012, as he led the American League with 216 hits while hitting .316 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs.
With Jeter cleared to play, he will get back to on-field workouts later this month, ESPN reported.
“I’ve got the OK to start,” Jeter told reporters before a launch party for his Turn 2 Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic. “But I don’t start until next week or the week after, anyway. In terms of baseball activity, I’m right where I need to be.”
RotoWire noted that this puts Jeter right where he normally is at this time of year:
“The 38-year-old said he’s received medical clearance to resume baseball activities, but added that he typically doesn’t begin them until later on in January. Jeter suffered the fractured ankle in Game 1 of the ALCS in October, but it sounds like he’ll be able to prepare as he usually does in the months leading up to spring training. He should be just fine for Opening Day.”
Now that Jeter has been cleared to play, Yankees fans can stop asking about his injury and focus on another pressing question. Does he still have some of the magic he brought to the field in 2012 left in him?