Bronx, NY – New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has been cleared by team doctors and will begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.
Jeter is scheduled to play at least five innings at shortstop in his first appearance. The 13-time All-Star has not played for New York this season while recovering from a broken ankle he suffered during Game 1 of last year's American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers.
Despite the entire team being ravaged by injuries, the Yankees have managed a 46-39 start to the 2013 campaign without their captain, but have sorely missed his production.
Jayson Nix, who has received the bulk of the playing time at shortstop, was placed on the disabled list on Wednesday with a hamstring injury and has hit .236 with 20 RBI in 73 games this season.
A timetable has not yet been announced for the 39-year-old Jeter, who is coming off a productive 2012 season in which he hit for a .316 batting average with 15 homers, 58 RBI and 99 runs scored.
In other news, the Yankees have transferred the rehab assignment of third baseman Alex Rodriguez to the club's Single-A Tampa Bay affiliate. Rodriguez is expected to play in his third rehab game on Friday afternoon.
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