The New York Yankees were able to go 91 games without their beloved captain Derek Jeter as the star shortstop recovered from a fractured left ankle. After only one game and four at bats it looks like they may have to go a little longer without him as Jeter was pulled for a pinch hitter after feeling tightness in his quad, ESPN reports.
Brett Gardner replaced Jeter in the eighth inning of the Yankee's 8-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals and one could assume that manager Joe Girardi was just being cautious with Jeter during his first game back. Then it was announced that the captain would be getting an MRI.
"I hope it's not a big deal," Jeter said. "It's just stiff. We'll find out tomorrow."
In his first appearance since the 12th inning of Game 1 of the ALCS Jeter went 1-4 with a run scored and an RBI. As Jeter came to the plate in the first inning the crowd erupted into a standing ovation. Most had yet to sit down by the time Jeter hit the first pitch he saw and reached on an infield single, according to the New York Daily News.
In comments to the New York Daily News Girardi insisted that the quad injury is completely unrelated to the ankle injury Jeter was recovering from. Girardi said that Jeter's quad had started to act up before his third at bat but that it was during his fourth at bat that it really tightened up.
The Yankees got off to a hot start despite being absolutely ravaged by injuries, the return of Jeter was supposed to be a reason to celebrate.
"It's nice, it has been a long time," Girardi said prior to the game. "We were expecting it to be Opening Day, but he had the setback where he had the new fracture. It's really nice to be able to put him in the lineup."
C.C. Sabathia was also very excited to have the captain back on the field.
"Any time you can get a guy back like that, it's going to make a big difference," Sabathia told the New York Daily News before the game. "It's been a long time coming for him. I know he's been working hard, so it will be good to see him back. Just having him around and here on a day-to-day basis, I think it will change the dynamic a little bit."
Jeter hopes that the quad issue resolves itself quickly.
"It's not frustrating, yet," Jeter said about his quad. "We're going to get an MRI, so we'll find out."
