Derek Jeter has one more season left in the major leagues and he is simply hoping his body can handle it. After two seasons filled with ankle and thigh issues, Jeter is planning on riding out into the sunset after the 2014 season. Focused on a healthy return, things have to go exactly as planned for the New York Yankees captain.
Jeter is coming off a severe ankle injury and according to several MLB scouts at Yankees spring training, he is showing it. Early reports say Jeter looks slow and his swing lacks power meaning playing this season could mean overcoming tough odds for the 39-year-old. In limited at-bats, Jeter is hitting just .128. That will simply not cut it. Despite the attention for his low numbers and struggling health, Jeter insists he feels fine.
"I feel good," Jeter said, via ESPN.com. "It takes a little while. When you miss time it takes awhile to get back. I've got one week left. I'm in a good spot."
According to Jeter, his struggling spring will have nothing to do with how he plays during the regular season. The shortstop insists that right now he is focused on health and not hits. Jeter referenced one spring training where he hit .380 in the spring and went flat in April. He is urging people to not put too much stock into stats, instead remaining focused on how his body is healing.
"It's the exact opposite," Jeter said. "If you have three at-bats, I'd rather get out three times and have three good at-bats as opposed to getting three hits. In the regular season, it's the complete opposite."
Joe Girardi echoed what Jeter was saying to the media. The Yankees manager noted that Jeter's timing at the plate has improved despite the shortstop having just five hits in 44 at-bats. He believes Jeter when the shortstop says he is feeling healthy and has full faith the captain plays a productive year for New York.
If Jeter suffers a setback between now and Opening Day, the Yankees could be in trouble. Backup Brendan Ryan is dealing with the upper-back injury that required him to get an MRI. He could start the season on the disabled list which puts New York at a real loss. Ryan is fresh off a new two-year, $5 million deal signed in the offseason and is expected to fill in for Jeter during the year. If he is unable to go, the Yankees will turn to Eduardo Nunez or Yangervis Solarte for help.
"I think right now, as long as we stay healthy, all the answers are here in camp," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "My job is to find somebody better than what we already have if at all possible. That never changes. But if he can't go we have someone here who will be able to do that."