Derek Jeter underwent further tests on his fractured left ankle today at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital to determine if he requires surgery.
“It’s possible,” Joe Girardi said of surgery.”That’s why they are having more tests.”
Early this morning the indication was that Jeter wouldn’t need surgery but that changed.
“When I went back there the doctor said, ‘I am not saying you are going to need (surgery) but the next tests will determine if you need it,” Girardi said.
A CT Scan and MRI confirmed an ankle fracture Sunday afternoon. Jeter will see Dr. Robert Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Charlotte in the coming days. He’s currently in a splint and on crutches. He isn’t at Yankee Stadium for Game 2 and is not going to Detroit.
With or without surgery, Jeter is expected to need three months to recover. If that goes well he would be ready for the start of spring training.
Jeter was scheduled to go from the hospital to his residence and keep his foot elevated, according to GM Brian Cashman.
Jeter suffered the fracture in the 12th inning of Game 1 going for a Jhonny Peralta ground ball up the middle. The Tigers scored twice in the frame and copped a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-seven ALCS that the Yankees will play the rest of without their shortstop, leadoff hitter, captain and heartbeat.
“You never want to lose a Derek Jeter but we didn’t want to lose Mariano Rivera, either and (Rafael Soriano) saved 42 of 45,” Girardi said of Rivera’s season-ending injury in early May due to a knee injury that required surgery.”It’s a chance for someone to step up. I am not going to devalue Derek Jeter and what he means to this club but a lot of people thought we were done when Mo went down and a lot of people thought we were done in August.”
Girardi indicated he was planning to hammer that point into his players’ heads before today’s Game 2 at Yankee Stadium.
Jayson Nix started at short and Ichiro Suzuki moved into Jeter’s leadoff spot.
Since Jeter’s left foot had been bruised and battered often lately by foul balls, Girardi was asked if the hits played a role in the fracture. Girardi went silent when asked if Jeter took cortisone shots to battle the discomfort.
“I don’t think he was playing on a stress fracture but the weakness in his ankle and the foul tip off his foot probably contributed to that,” Girardi said.
Girardi spoke to Jeter this morning and as expected Jeter put on a good front.
“He will be the tough guy but this is what he lives for,” Girardi said of post-season games.