TAMPA — Opening Day or bust.
Jacoby Ellsbury declared himself on target for playing Opening Day in Houston this Tuesday after getting five plate appearances and playing five innings in center field Wednesday in a minor league game against the Single-A Pirates at the Yankees minor league complex.
Ellsbury has been out with a tight right calf since March 22.
“You couldn’t really ask for anything more, I did a little bit of everything at the plate, in the field and on the bases,” Ellsbury said after going 1-for-4 with a walk.
He hit the ball hard three times, caught two fly balls and moved well in the outfield and on the bases.
“Everything went well,” Ellsbury said. “I want to be ready for Opening Day. I feel very good right now. We still have four games left. I got 11 at-bats the last two games.
“If this were regular season, there would be no question [I’m playing].”
Injuries have sidelined Ellsbury in the past with the Red Sox. He averaged 96 games over the last four seasons. The Yankees signed the free agent to a seven-year, $153 million contract and need him to spark the offense.
“I think he will be ready for Opening Day,” GM Brian Cashman said after watching the game along with assistant GM Billy Eppler.
The Yankees figure to play Ellsbury in another minor league game Thursday. If Ellsbury has a setback on the minor league side, his DL stint can be back-dated to March 21, the last time he played in a major league game.
“Our intent was to play him over here the rest of the way before we go to Houston,” Cashman said. “But he’s bouncing around so well, maybe we should change that (plan).”