Yankees' Teixeira not returning May 1
Injured New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira had hoped to return on May 1, but he acknowledged this week that's not going to happen.
Teixeira suffered a wrist injury during spring training on March 5. His recovery was estimated at eight to 10 weeks, which put his return between April 30 and May 14. The latter date seems more realistic now.
"Obviously, I was being as optimistic as I could," Teixeira said, according to MLB.com. "I wish that the very first time I swung a bat, I'd be like, wow, I feel 100 percent. But the chances of that happening weren't there. I was always going to hope for that and prepare for that.
"The last thing you want to do is say, well, I don't know when I'll be back and then not train and not have that focus. I'm training, and I'm focused to try to get back on May 1, but it's probably not going to happen."
Teixiera was quick to point out that he hasn't suffered any setbacks in his recovery, but he is still unable to hit.
"It just hasn't loosened up yet," he said. "So I'm hoping that that's still the timetable."
Last season, Teixeria batted .251 with 24 homers and 84 RBI in 123 games and won a Gold Glove for his work in the field.
With Teixeira out of the lineup during the first month of the season, the Yankees have relied for the most part on Lyle Overbay at first base.
The Yankees also are without shorstop Derek Jeter as he recovers from an ankle injury suffered last October in the playoffs. Jeter'a ankle was placed back in a walking boot and his return also has been delayed.
