Derek Jeter is back on the field.
The Yankees’ captain, whose 2012 season ended in sudden, gruesome fashion when he fractured his left ankle during American League Championship Series Game 1, fielded 55 grounders yesterday at the Yankees’ minor-league complex in Tampa.
Granted, Jeter stood on the grass in front of the infield dirt. But you’ve got to start somewhere.
“Everything went well,” Jeter, who also hit in a batting cage, told the Associated Press.
Jeter, who underwent surgery a week after sustaining his injury, has repeatedly said he intends to be ready by Opening Day.
* The Yankees signed outfielder Juan Rivera to a minor-league contract, an industry source confirmed, giving them another option to be their much-needed righty-hitting outfielder. Rivera, 34, started his career in the Yankees organization, serving as a part-time player before going to Montreal (in December 2003) as part of a package for starting pitcher Javier Vazquez.
The Venezuela native spent the 2012 season with the Dodgers, putting up a .286 on-base percentage and .375 slugging percentage in 339 plate appearances. Of those plate appearances, 138 came against lefty pitchers, and Rivera put up a .312 OBP and .433 SLG.
Veteran Matt Diaz, also signed to a minor-league contract, and waiver claim Russ Canzler are the Yankees’ other options to complement lefty-hitting outfielders Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Ichiro Suzuki.