Bob Sheppard's Voice to Ring Out Again: The Return of Derek Jeter

Jeter will be all smiles today...unless you ask him about his ankle.

Thursday, July 11, 2013, a holiday, festive day...weather permitting. It's the day that Derek Jeter returns to the Yankees lineup in a day time contest with the Kansas City Royals.

The Yankees captain has not manned his position in Yankee Stadium since he broke his left ankle in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against Detroit last October. He had hoped to be ready for Opening Day this year, but had a setback and then a new fracture was found on the ankle.

Jeter spent the past week rehabbing with the Triple-A Scranton Railriders and appeared to be moving free and easy in the field and when running.

Outside of the cup of coffee he got in 1995, Jeter has never played less than 119 regular season games in any season. The prior low total occurred in 2003 when Toronto Blue Jays catcher Ken Huckaby landed hard on his left shoulder and dislocated it.  Hopefully Jeter's ankle injury soon becomes a distant memory like his shoulder injury.

Expect Alberto Gonzalez (most likely) or Luis Cruz to be DFA'ed to make room for Jeter on the roster.

Here's to the Captain, Bob Sheppard, and some normalcy in Yankeeland.


UPDATE - Jeter will be the DH in his first game back. Totally off on the roster off. Travis Ishakawa, who played one game, struck out twice, and got booed, was designated for assignment. I gather another move will be made within a few days to add a pitcher or outfielder/first baseman to the roster once Jeter shows everything is cool.