Although this year’s All-Star game will be held at Citi Field, it looks as if the festivities have moved down to the Yankees’ spring training complex in Tampa, Fla. Today, the injury-ridden-all-star Yankees descended on Florida for rehab, according to Mark Feinsand of the Daily News.
Francisco Cervelli, Curtis Granderson, Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis were all seen down at the complex today, either rehabbing their current injuries or just arriving – as was Arod’s case.
The Yankees who are returning soon: Granderson arrived at the complex early this morning, and will play in an extended spring training game this afternoon; he should be back in 10 days or so. Teixeira participated in live batting practice the other day for the first time but will hit in the cage; he is eying an early June return. Youkilis was placed on the DL last week, and hopes to return when he is eligible in a week and a half. Nova will begin rehab on his cranky elbow.
The Yankees working their way back: The complex was closed off to the media, so no one knows yet what Arod had planned for today when he arrived this morning. We do know that he has been cleared for “baseball activites.” Pineda, who threw a simulated game last week and topped out at 95 mph on the radar gun, continued his workouts today; he hopes to be back on a big league mound in about two months. Cervelli was recently placed on the 60-day DL while he is recovering from a broken hand; he is expected to miss six weeks. Derek Jeter was not seen at the complex today.
In all, five former all-stars worked out today hoping to come back to the big league team and make a difference. As long as the Yankees continue to knock down games on the schedule with the guys they have now, they’ll be better off when the big guys return.
