Mark Teixeira made his long-awaited return to the lineup Saturday in the Yankees’ 2-1 win over the Twins in The Bronx.
The problem is the first baseman picked up right where he left off after missing three weeks with torn cartilage in his right knee.
Teixeira, activated from the disabled list before the game, went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout, but manager Joe Girardi was encouraged by what he saw.
“I thought he looked good,” Girardi said. “He grinded out some at-bats.”
He walked in the fourth and struck out to end a 10-pitch at-bat with runners on the corners and no one out in the eighth.
Despite the optimism surrounding Teixeira’s presence in the lineup, there is no telling how long his knee or neck will hold up.
“I don’t really know, honestly,” said Teixeira, who likely will be treated with cortisone and lubricants again over the All-Star break. “We’ll just try to keep [the knee] from locking up.”
Before the game, Girardi said Teixeira’s injury weighs on him “more than I would like, because at any point you worry it could come back. You just have to watch him carefully.”
And even that might not be enough.
“You obviously worry about when they run, but it could be as simple as going after a ground ball,” Girardi said.
To make room for Teixeira, Ike Davis was designated for assignment and will have to clear waivers before the Yankees can option him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Rob Refsnyder will stay in a utility role.
“My [batting practice] is better right now than it’s been in four years,” Davis said. “I’m driving the ball like I used to. … The next step, I don’t know where it will be or with who, but hopefully I get out there and show what I can do.”
For now, it’s Refsnyder’s job.
“We really like what [Refsnyder] has done and he provides flexibility,” Girardi said. “He can play right field and second base, and his at-bats have been really good. He’s played well, so we’re gonna stick with it.”
The manager insisted there will be at-bats for Refsnyder even if Teixeira can stay in one piece, especially with the Yankees losing the DH for three games in San Diego beginning Friday.
“[Teixeira] is someone that I don’t see us running him out there four, five days in a row right at the beginning here,” Girardi said.
Especially since his OPS dipped to .530 on Saturday. He also went 1-for-9 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“I feel pretty good,” Teixeira said of his rehab stint. “I accomplished everything I wanted to in Scranton. I played three games without major incidents.”