General manager Brian Cashman said last night that Derek Jeter was on track to come off the disabled list early next week and now the Associated Press reports that the injured shortstop is scheduled to be back in the Yankees’ lineup Monday.
Before that happens Jeter will have to avoid a setback with his calf injury while playing in minor-league rehab games Saturday and Sunday, but returning Monday would give him a chance to make a run at 3,000 hits in Yankee Stadium before the All-Star break is followed by an eight-game road trip.
Jeter is currently six hits short of the milestone and has been out since June 13 despite initially saying he wanted to avoid the DL and play through the injury. He was eligible to return yesterday, so clearly forcing the DL stint was the right call by the Yankees.
Jeter, who posted career-worst marks in batting average (.260), on-base percentage (.324), and slugging percentage (.324) in 62 games prior to the injury, went through full workouts yesterday and reported no problems.