CLEVELAND -- Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has moved a step closer to
rejoining the New York Yankees.
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Jeter, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained abdominal
muscle, said he will resume swinging a bat Monday.
"It's getting better," the shortstop said Sunday after
completing his third day of workouts and treatment at the Yankees'
player development center in Florida.
Jeter is eligible to be activated Saturday, and did not rule out
being ready when the Yankees play Boston next weekend.
"When I'm ready, I'm out of here," Jeter said.
Jeter was hitless (0-13) in his last four games before being
pulled in the third inning May 11 against Tampa Bay. This is the
second time Jeter, the AL's Rookie of the Year in 1996, has gone on
the DL. He was sidelined with an abdominal strain in 1988.
To replace Jeter, the Yankees recalled infielder Alfonso Soriano
from Triple-A Columbus.
Yankees manager Joe Torre said Jeter didn't have any setbacks
while working out in Florida.
"There's a chance he'll be ready in a week and a chance he
won't be," Torre said.
The Yankees didn't decide on placing Jeter on the DL until
working out Clay Bellinger before the game.
Bellinger was hit in the left shoulder by a pitch on Tuesday
night, and was only cleared to play after going through pregame
workouts.
Torre said he spoke with Jeter on Thursday, and told his
shortstop to take as much time as he needed to get well.
"We need him healthy," Torre said. "If it's September, he
plays. But in May, with the whole season ahead of him, you don't
want him grinding on it every day."
Jeter, who was batting .266 with three homers and 13 RBI in 32
games. He told Torre he was feeling better and will continue
receiving treatment and doing exercise while in Florida.
"Hopefully, it will continue to go well," Torre said. "Every
day he feels better than the day before."
Soriano, a natural shortstop, struggled while starting eight
games at third base before being optioned to Columbus when Scott
Brosius came off the DL.
He batted just .133 with four strikeouts in 15 at-bats, and
never looked comfortable at third, making four errors.
"I think that maybe I tried a little too hard," Soriano, who
admitted to being nervous, said through an interpreter. "I think
it will go better. I'm better prepared."
The 22-year-old knows that he'll only be holding things down
until Jeter returns.
"It's just a temporary thing and when he gets back, it's his
position," Soriano said. "I know that."
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