CLEARWATER, Fla. — The unknown is out there, and Mark Teixeira is set to make the most of it.
That, in a way, always has been the secret to his success.
“This is a game you have to try to make fun,’’ Teixeira told The Post Thursday. “You can make it not fun and you can make it really difficult. Last year it was difficult, but because I missed the time, it’s a lot more exciting.’’
And how is it exciting, exactly, coming back from a wrist injury that essentially cost Teixeira the entire 2013 season?
“I kind of feel like a rookie this year because of the time off and the excitement of the little bit of the unknown,’’ Teixeira said. “How will I come back? Will I be the same player? Will I be better? There is some anxiety involved, but there’s also excitement.’’
Teixeira is out to show the world he can be the same player he was for the Yankees during the 2009-11 seasons — when he averaged 157 games, 37 home runs, 35 doubles, 114 RBIs, 102 runs, a .514 slugging percentage and an .877 OPS. Mix in some Gold Gloves, too.
The first baseman offered up his best swings of the spring Thursday in a split-squad 6-2 loss to the Phillies at Bright House Field, ripping a one-hopper off the chest of pitcher Roberto Hernandez then lining out to short right, where the third baseman was playing in the Phillies’ shift. In his final plate appearance, this time batting right-handed, Teixeira walked. He also had a couple of checked swings, reporting no wrist issues.
Teixeira, 34 next month, had surgery to repair the tendon sheath in his right wrist last season then spent six weeks in a cast. This has been a long road back.
“Today was a good day,’’ Teixeira said. “Every day this spring has been a good day.’’
With all the big moves the Yankees have made, Teixeira has been a bit like forgotten man. The attention has been on pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, catcher Brian McCann, right fielder Carlos Beltran and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who hit his first home run of the spring in the seventh.
“Sometimes it’s good to be forgotten,’’ Teixeira said. “Sometimes you just want to go out there and play the game. I hope that I get back to the point where I’m so consistent every year that people don’t talk about me. People don’t talk about, ‘Oh well, Tex put up 30 again. Tex put up 100 again. Won a Gold Glove.’ If that becomes the norm again, then I’m in a good spot.’’
As for those Yankee additions, Teixeira said, “Not only are they great ballplayers, but they are really solid people and they are going to be huge additions on and off the field this year.’’
With Robinson Cano gone to Seattle and Alex Rodriguez to the baseball penalty box, the Yankees need Teixeira more than ever in the middle of the lineup. His bat must play. And must succeed.
“There’s two ways to take any adversity that comes to you, the first is to feel sorry for yourself, the second is to use it as a motivation to get better and that’s what I tried to do,’’ Teixeira said.
“Anytime something happens to me, I look at it as what can I take positive,’’ he added. “You can’t dwell on the negatives. If you dwell on the negatives in this sport, you’ll be out before your career ever starts. Especially as a hitter, this is a game of failure. There’s no way you can go through the ups and downs of a season, much less a career, with a pessimistic attitude. And that’s why I’ve always been optimistic.’’
Add some anxiety and Teixeira is good to go.