TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Yankees captain Derek Jeter is about two weeks away from playing in a game for the first time since breaking his ankle last fall.
New York general manager Brian Cashman said on Sunday that the shortstop should be ready to play in spring training games around March 10.
``Physically, he's capable of doing everything,'' Cashman said. ``We're being very cautious.''
Also, Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson left in the first inning of Sunday's split-squad game against Toronto he got hit near the hand by J.A. Happ's pitch. New York said Granderson had a bruised right forearm and was taken for X-rays.
Jeter practiced on-field running and agility drills for the second straight day Sunday. He expects to be ready for opening day against Boston on April 1. The 38-year-old broke his left ankle lunging for a grounder in the AL championship series opener against Detroit on Oct. 13 and had surgery a week later.
``When I first got here, I was a couple weeks behind what everyone was doing anyway, so on that schedule, I don't see any reason why not,'' Jeter said.
Jeter also continued hitting and fielding grounders before the Yankees' second exhibition game.
Cashman said the timetable for the possible return of third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who had hip surgery, is still in July. A-Rod is doing rehab work in New York.
``We're told that he's going to be back at the All-Star break, and that's what we believe,'' Cashman said. ``His rehab is going well.''
Yankees ace CC Sabathia (left elbow bone spur surgery) is scheduled to throw batting practice for the first time Monday. Closer Mariano Rivera (knee surgery) is set to have his second BP session.
NOTES: RHP Phil Hughes (bulging disk) is set to start three to five days of working out in a pool. ... LHP Andy Pettitte had a 30-pitch bullpen session and will throw batting practice in a few days. ... RHP Hiroki Kuroda threw BP split into segments.
