By David Wilson / MLB.com | 7/27/2013 4:46 P.M. ET
NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter's simulated game Saturday was clouded in secrecy, but after the Yankees' 1-0 loss to the Rays, manager Joe Girardi revealed some details, including one big one: The shortstop could rejoin the Yankees on Sunday.
Girardi disclosed the location of the game -- Staten Island -- who Jeter faced -- a pitcher from the short-season Class A affiliate -- and what exactly the captain did. Jeter took eight at-bats, ran from first to third and second to home, and took ground balls at shortstop. If he's feeling good Sunday morning, he will be in New York's lineup at shortstop, Girardi said.
"It's obviously someone we've been waiting for for a long time," the manager said. "We had him for one day. We won that game, so hopefully his ratio continues."
Jeter began the season on the disabled list after breaking his ankle in the 2012 American League Championship Series. He returned for one game on July 11 and went 0-for-2 with an RBI groundout before straining his right quad, an injury that placed him back on the DL after the All-Star break. Saturday was the first day he was eligible to return.
Girardi said designated hitter Travis Hafner will head to the DL with a shoulder injury, so Jeter's return could be the corresponding move.
The simulated game was part of Jeter's rehab process for the quad injury. There was concern that the Yankees rushed their captain back from his ankle injury, so this time, they're making sure he'll be ready.
"You can be in great shape, but playing shape's a little bit different because you're getting used to standing around, starting and stopping, so we had to do all that," Girardi said. "As of right now, he came out very well. So we'll see how he feels tomorrow."
Struggling Hafner lands on DL with rotator cuff strain
NEW YORK -- Some time after Travis Hafner's last at-bat Friday, Joe Girardi got word that the slumping designated hitter had a sore shoulder. Had Hafner's spot come up in the order again, Girardi said Saturday that he would've used Vernon Wells as a pinch-hitter.
Hafner was out of the Yankees' lineup in their 1-0 loss to the Rays on Saturday after he underwent an MRI exam. The MRI revealed a right rotator cuff strain and Hafner will be placed on the disabled list, according to Girardi.
Derek Jeter, who performed well in a simulated game Saturday, will likely be activated as the corresponding move.
Hafner has struggled for the better part of the last three months. Since batting .318 with six home runs and a 1.104 OPS in April, his average has plummeted to .205, his OPS to .684 and he's clubbed just six more home runs in nearly three months.
In Friday's press conference, largely dedicated to a discussion about new outfielder Alfonso Soriano and questions about Alex Rodriguez, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman took several minutes to discuss the slumping DH, as well.
"I suspect that it's beating him up and that's probably working against him right now that he's not playing as well as he's capable of playing, but we still have confidence," Cashman said. "I know that every time he comes to the plate he's capable of a lot."
Neither Girardi nor Cashman expressed any concern about an injury with Hafner prior to Saturday, though the GM did note that "when he's healthy, he can hit," and Hafner simply hasn't been hitting.
Cashman pointed to certain statistical shifts that seem to signify Hafner's struggles. His 78 strikeouts and 32 walks in 81 games put him on pace for 156 and 64 over 162 games. He averages 134 strikeouts and 82 walks in 162-game seasons over his career. Still, Cashman said the velocity of the ball off his bat remains around his career average.
"We still believe in him," Cashman said, but "we're going to run whoever's the best option for that day unless we come up with better options."
In theory, Hafner's power from the left side of the plate should play well at Yankee Stadium, but if health is a concern, then his value becomes greatly diminished. But until Friday night, there was no reason to think that was an issue.
"He has not complained of his shoulder, he has not been getting treatment really on his shoulder," Girardi said. "So I don't know if it was one swing yesterday or what, but it leads me to believe it was one swing."
Bombers bits
• Shortstop Derek Jeter will play in a simulated game Saturday. Girardi would not disclose the time or place of the game, but said he Yankees would "let him go do his work and see how he is after today."
• Outfielder Curtis Granderson played in his second rehab game with Class A Tampa on Friday, going 0-for-3 with an RBI. Granderson, who has been on the disabled list with a broken left pinkie since May 25, will play another game with Tampa on Saturday.
• Infielder Jayson Nix also played in his second rehab Friday in Tampa, going 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Girardi said Nix, who has been on the DL with a hamstring injury since July 3, is closer to returning than Granderson and could rejoin the Yankees during their West Coast road trip this week.
"We think Nixy is pretty close. He's going to DH today," Girardi said. "We're thinking that he's real close."
David Wilson is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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