A cortisone shot Gary Sheffield vowed not to take is working wonders.
Two days after cutting short a hitting session off a tee because his left hand and wrist weren’t feeling well, Sheffield put on a power display during batting practice prior to the Yankees’ 4-3 loss to the Mets in the Subway Series last night at Shea Stadium.
The Post learned and GM Brian Cashman confirmed that Sheffield took a cortisone injection on May 14 to relieve the discomfort from a sprained left hand and wrist problem that had him inactive since May 5.
While Friday’s tee session was a disappointment, yesterday’s batting practice was encouraging. Not enough for Sheffield – who was eligible to come off the disabled list yesterday – to play, but Cashman didn’t say his right fielder and No. 3 hitter wouldn’t play tonight in Boston, when the Yankees open a three-game series against their blood rivals.
In the middle of the batting practice session, in which Sheffield hit balls out of Shea, he told Joe Torre, “I’m ready to do whatever you want me to.”
Cashman planned to discuss the options with Sheffield, Torre and the medical staff. Sheffield could need a rehab game, a simulated game or face Curt Schilling tonight.
While he sprinted up the runway behind the dugout before last night’s game, Sheffield was asked if the BP session felt as good as it looked.
“Yeah,” Sheffield said without breaking stride.
Getting a cortisone shot was a direct about-face for Sheffield, who on May 7 said he wasn’t going to go that route.
“It’s too late in my career to get cortisone and (dealing) with the side effects later on,” Sheffield said in Texas. “I’m not going to do it anymore.”
Cashman didn’t provide an answer as to why Sheffield changed his mind. But obviously Cashman was pleased to see Sheffield in the cage. In between rounds, Sheffield and Cashman hugged and laughed.
“It was a good step forward. He is one guy we desperately need to come back,” Cashman said of Sheffield. “When he comes back, I couldn’t tell you.”
The Yankees have used Bernie Williams, Bubba Crosby and Melky Cabrera in right field and have missed Sheffield’s run production from the No. 3 hole, where Jason Giambi started last night’s game in a 3-for-33 (.091) funk.