TAMPA — The Yankees survived nearly three weeks without Derek Jeter. Now they will have to figure out a way to survive another three months.
Jeter suffered a small crack in his surgically repaired left ankle and is out until mid-July, at the earliest.
The shortstop, who had hoped to be back in time for Opening Day, took an unexpected break from his rehab at the team’s minor league complex to visit to Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte yesterday, where a CT scan revealed the new break.
“We have to back off and let that heal,” general manager Brian Cashman said in The Bronx Thursday before the Yankees’ 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. “Now, this is obviously a setback. We are looking at, in terms of speculating on when we might see Derek back with us, you’re looking at sometime after the All-Star break.”
Cashman said the new injury would not require surgery and added he was told by Anderson, who did the procedure in October, that 95 percent of people who have had this happen have “come back fine.”
Perhaps, but after his rehab had gone relatively smoothly since originally suffering the injury in Game 1 of the ALCS, almost nothing has gone right in Jeter’s recovery over the last four weeks.
“I know it’s extremely disappointing for him because he’s so used to being here with us,” manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s something we’re really going to have to fight through.”
The 38-year-old hasn’t played in a game since March 23. Soreness in various parts of the ankle forced him to slow down the rehab process. And last weekend, the Yankees had him back off again and he stayed away from baseball activities for two days.
When he returned to drills this week, his workload was lightened and he was still limited to taking grounders and running lightly in the outfield.
“Obviously, he’s had some issues, but it’s gone longer than we expected,” Cashman said. “When Derek Jeter continues to have issues that don’t go away, you know it means there’s more than just typical [discomfort]. That’s what led to the follow-up.”
Cashman pointed out that Jeter had two previous CT scans that showed the original injury had fully healed.
“Clearly, he hasn’t done anything wrong,” Cashman said. “He was cleared to play. … He wasn’t cleared for baseball activity until it was 100 percent healed, so this is a new fracture — but a small one. I guess that’s the only good part.”
A fracture usually takes six-to-eight weeks to heal, but Cashman hoped since doctors said it was a small one, that period might be reduced to four-to-six weeks. And he didn’t believe any particular incident created the new break.
“I think it’s something that was lingering,” Cashman said. “I don’t think it’s something that just occurred.”
He acknowledged, though, the most recent injury was likely related to the first.
“I would think so,” Cashman said. “I would think they’re definitely related. It’s a new fracture in the same area.”
When asked how Jeter responded to the news, Cashman said: “Like a pro. He said, ‘I’ll see you in 4-6 weeks.’ ’’
Until then,— if the Yankees are fortunate, that is — they appear to be willing to stick with Eduardo Nunez and Jayson Nix.
Though Nunez continues to be confident he is up to the task of being the everyday shortstop, he admitted his own limitations.
“I’ll never be Derek Jeter,” Nunez said. “He’s the only one who can do what he [does].”
Nunez has been able to ease some fears about his defense, but has yet to meet expectations at the plate.
For now, at least, Cashman will stick with him, partially because an alternative would be difficult to find at this point in the season.
“We’re going to stay as we are,” Cashman said. “The guys have done a nice job. They’ve earned the right. … I’m happy with [Nix] and [Nunez], but I’d be happier with Derek.”