TAMPA — Curtis Granderson was the first one back from the disabled list and it appears Mark Teixeira will be the second, with Kevin Youkilis a close third.
“He could start a rehab [assignment] Tuesday in Trenton [Double-A],’’ general manager Brian Cashman said yesterday after Teixeira worked out at the Yankees’ minor league complex. “Hopefully, everything continues to go right for him and in the first week of June he will be ready for us.’’
Teixeira has not played this season due to a tendon problem in the right wrist suffered March 5 while part of the United States’ World Baseball Classic team.
Lately, he has been participating in simulated games instead of playing in extended spring games because he can see more pitches in the controlled atmosphere of simulated games.
Yesterday, Teixeira and Youkilis took batting practice on the field at the complex.
While Lyle Overbay has filled in very well for Teixeira and became the full-time first baseman when Youkilis went on the DL with a lower back problem late last month, Teixeira represents an upgrade over Overbay, who has started 21 of 22 games since Youkilis last played on April 27 and is hitting .250 with seven homers and 25 RBIs.
One area of concern with Overbay, who wasn’t supposed to face lefties because Youkilis was set to play first against them, is batting .140 (6-for-43) versus left-handers.
Teixeira’s return doesn’t mean Overbay will be jettisoned. The Yankees have to be sure Teixeira’s tendon problem doesn’t resurface, because if it does and Overbay, who would be picked up immediately by another team if let go, is gone, the Yankees don’t have a first baseman at least until Youkilis returns.
“Everything’s great. I can’t be happier with how I feel,” Teixeira said. “Taking at-bats, playing in a few more games here and hopefully next week go on a rehab assignment at some point.”
Trenton starts a three-game series against Erie at home Tuesday.
According to Cashman, there is a possibility Youkilis could start a rehab assignment next week but that’s not as concrete as the plan for Teixeira.
While David Adams has impressed since joining the Yankees May 15 by hitting .308 (8-for-26) with two homers, three RBIs and solid defense at third in seven games, the same thinking applies to Youkilis’ return as it does with Teixeira: The Yankees are better with Youkilis as long as he is healthy.
Teixeira admitted to having a little anxiety when he graduated from tee and toss drills to batting practice to simulated games.
“Once I got those first few [swings against live pitching] out of the way it’s been great. Seeing the ball really well, hitting the ball really well. As always, right-handed is a little bit ahead of left-handed,’’ said Teixeira, who explained throwing never has been an issue. “But I feel great right now. Like I said, very happy with where I am.”
Teixeira credited the replacement Yankees posting a 28-18 record as a reason the club has been allowed to be conservative with him.
“If it was my choice, I would have been back earlier. But it’s all about the team, it’s what’s best for the team,’’ Teixeira said. “There’s some points where you have to speed up a recovery, like come back a little bit too early because the team needs you, and sometimes the team’s doing great and they’d rather make sure you’re 100 percent healthy and be ready for the long haul and I think that’s where we are right here.
“Like I said, I want to be out there and if the team said, ‘Mark, we need you back on May 2,’ I’d figure out a way to get back on May 2. But because of how well we’ve played, that wasn’t needed. I give my teammates credit because they’ve allowed me to get healthy and get myself ready for the rest of the season.”