An MRI of Mark Teixeira’s right hamstring Monday revealed a Grade 1 strain, which is about as good news as could be expected.
“I knew it wasn’t anything major,’’ said Teixeira, who suffered the injury Friday night in Toronto moving for a foul ground ball. “If I am on crutches something is wrong, but I can walk and I can put pressure on it. I knew something wasn’t right, and that’s what the MRI showed.’’
Teixeira, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list, said he will begin an exercise program Tuesday.
Kelly Johnson, who was the regular third baseman, has played first base the past three games and drew a bases-loaded walk from lefty reliever Zach Britton in Monday’s 4-2 win over the Orioles.
The careers of Yogi Berra and Derek Jeter have had a lot to do with timing as well as Hall of Fame skills.
So, it was only fitting the first person Berra saw when he entered the Yankees’ clubhouse Monday morning was Jeter, who was preparing for his final home opener against the Orioles.
“He was the first guy I saw and that was very nice,’’ Berra said through friend Dave Kaplan. “He has had a hell of a career.’’
Berra, whose wife, Carmen, passed away last month, stayed for three innings before leaving Yankee Stadium with Kaplan, who described Monday as “being a very good day for him.’’
Jeter chatted with Berra, who didn’t attend spring training.
“It had been a while since I had seen him. It’s always a good day to see him,’’ Jeter said. “You miss him when he is not around.’’
Not only has David Robertson been assigned the daunting task of following Mariano Rivera into the ninth inning he has moved into the all-time saves leader’s locker in the Yankees’ clubhouse.
Robertson made the short move from the first unit to the left of the door to a stall halfway around the room on the same side.
Carlos Beltran resides in Robinson Cano’s former locker, which is to the left of the exit in the back of the room and across the pathway from Jeter.
Jeter is currently the top-selling MLB player on Fanatics.com, an officially licensed team merchandise retailer, and has been since announcing his retirement in February.
More Jeter merchandise was sold on the website in March than the last four Marches combined.
Jeter merchandise is up more than 600 percent this month compared to last April when Jeter was on the DL.
Additional reporting by Joel ShermanÂ