Ellsbury ready to return from concussion DL
BALTIMORE — With headaches from the concussion he suffered last Wednesday gone, Jacoby Ellsbury participated in baseball activities prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Orioles at Camden Yards.
“Today is the best I have felt,’’ said Ellsbury, who is eligible to come off the seven-day concussion disabled list Thursday when the Yankees open a four-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto. “As far as the headaches I feel a lot better today.’’
Manager Joe Girardi said before the game the plan was for Ellsbury to do some running and possibly hit in the indoor cage.
Ellsbury also suffered a sprained ligament in his neck when he crashed into the Yankee Stadium center-field wall making a catch against the Royals.
“My neck feels better each day,’’ said Ellsbury, who watched Aaron Hicks start Tuesday, his fifth straight game subbing in center.
Until he is told otherwise, Ellsbury plans on flying with the team to Canada following Wednesday night’s game in Baltimore
“I am here, I am assuming [going to] Toronto,’’ said Ellsbury, who is batting .281 with a .349 on-base percentage in 39 games.
Because Ellsbury got hurt catching the ball at the same time he was crashing into the padded wall, he was asked about attempting another catch under similar circumstances.
“I made a lot of them all the time and I play to win and play hard,’’ Ellsbury said. “If the ball is in the air I will try to catch it.’’
After throwing on flat ground Sunday and Monday, Aroldis Chapman didn’t throw Tuesday. Girardi said the closer didn’t experience any problems working on consecutive days and will throw Wednesday. Chapman has been on the DL since May 14 with rotator cuff inflammation in the left shoulder.
With Chris Carter in a 2-for-28 (.071) slide, Girardi turned to Rob Refsnyder to start at first base.
“His at-bats when we have had him here have been good,’’ Girardi said of Refsnyder’s three previous big league at-bats this season which hadn’t produced a hit. “I thought I would give Chris a day off and give Ref a chance to see what he can do out there.’’
Refsnyder went 0-for-3 with a walk and was replaced by Carter for defense in the home seventh. Carter grounded out in one at-bat.
Girardi wouldn’t commit to Refsnyder getting more chances to play the position the Yankees hope Greg Bird can eventually return to. Bird is slated to play in a Single-A game for Tampa Thursday. He is on the DL with a right ankle bruise.
Left-hander Justus Sheffield was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for May 22-28. Sheffield, who came from the Indians in the Andrew Miller deal last July, went 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts for Double-A Trenton. … Yankees starters have given up two earned runs or fewer in nine straight games.