While many Yankees fans are focused on the Alex Rodriguez PED rumors, another Yankee superstar in the minors has kept a low profile. Derek Jeter returned from a broken ankle suffered in last year's ALCS this week for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (AAA) and went 1-9 at the plate.
Jeter was slotted to play designated hitter for the RailRiders on Thursday, but with Travis Hafner and Brett Gardner going down with injuries on the big league club, the Bombers called Jeter's number. The Yankees' captain rejoined the team for their afternoon game with the Royals.
In his first at-bat, Jeter had an infield single down the third base line and scored a run on Vernon Wells' sacrifice fly. He received a standing ovation from the crowd upon coming up to the plate as the designated hitter.
Before the game, a handful of Yankees expressed their feelings on Jeter's return to ThePostGame at the Yankees' HOPE Week event: Birthday Wishes.
"It's great. Having our captain back is great," said Mariano Rivera. "It's always good when you have your captain back. He's asked to be with the lineup and the team."
"Hopefully he goes four for four with four RBIs and we get a win," Chris Stewart added. "It's just good to have him back out there. I'm sure there's going to be little butterflies kind of going. It's been awhile and he hasn't really been out there. Hopefully we solidify the shortstop position. We've definitely missed him out there. It's been kind of weird seeing that one hole not with Jeter's name there."
-- Follow Jeffrey Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband.
