CLEVELAND — Derek Jeter ran outside for the first time Tuesday since suffering a setback last month in his recovery from his fractured ankle.
And the Yankees shortstop’s progress in Tampa left manager Joe Girardi cautiously optimistic.
“He feels better, so we’ll keep amping it up a little bit each day,” Girardi said.
Jeter is expected to run outside again Wednesday, as well as hit outside — which would be another step forward.
“That’s not as big a step as running outside,” Girardi said of BP. “He did some sprints, not 100 percent, but he was able to do them to me, that’s a big step. I’m really curious how he feels tomorrow.”
Jeter had hoped to be back by Opening Day, which is already over a week ago. Thanks to the soreness he felt in his ankle during his rehab, the team remains hesitant to put a timetable on a return.
Girardi still isn’t sure how many rehab games Jeter will need before he can return to The Bronx.
“It probably depends on how he can do back-to-back and how his body responds,” Girardi said. “It’s not like a two or three game rehab. It’s gonna have to be more. We’re gonna have to see him maybe 4-of-5 days.”
Jeter was also able to move more when fielding grounders, as opposed to staying stationary and having balls hit right at him.
One test Jeter won’t have to pass, though, is playing a full nine innings.
“I didn’t have one guy here play nine innings before the end of spring,” Girardi said. “Seven [innings] is the number. Two innings to me is not really gonna make a difference.”
Girardi and the training staff watched video of Jeter’s running Tuesday.
“He looked OK to me,” Girardi said. “He looked as good as any point in spring training.”
He added the shortstop would not be able to “hide” it if the injury continues to bother him.
“We’ll be able to tell by the way he’s moving,” said Girardi, who referred to the restrictions that were still on Jeter even before he had his setback. “You could see even when he was coming back before there was a governor on him to a certain extent. Until that’s really taken off, you won’t have a good idea when he’s gonna be back.”