TAMPA — Three weeks ago, Brett Gardner was worried about a slow healing bone bruise in his left wrist that he suffered in early October.
Thursday, the Yankees’ left fielder and No. 2 hitter was limited to swinging a bat off a “T’’ and at soft tosses and didn’t participate in batting practice during the first full-squad spring training workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field. It was the first time since the AL wild- card loss to the Astros that Gardner swung a bat other than taking dry swings for two to three weeks.
Though he won’t swing a bat Friday, Gardner is encouraged.
“Three weeks ago I was a lot more concerned than I am now,’’ said Gardner, who couldn’t start his normal offseason hitting program around the holidays because of the bruise suffered when he used his left hand to brace himself against the Yankee Stadium center-field wall while catching Evan Gattis’ fly ball in the second inning. “I was excited about the way I felt hitting. I was a little bit, I wouldn’t say worried, but curious to [see] how it felt off the bat.’’
Gardner, 32 and in the second leg of a four-year, $52 million contract, understands trainer Steve Donohue making him go slow with an injury that can linger for a full year. The Yankees are optimistic Gardner’s problem will be solved before Opening Day but don’t look for him Tuesday when the Yankees open the exhibition season against the Tigers at Steinbrenner Field.
According to Gardner, an MRI following the 3-0 loss to the Astros revealed a bone bruise. General manager Brian Cashman said a second test “showed significant improvement.’’
However, when compared to Mark Teixeira’s recovery from a fractured lower right leg last August, Gardner’s path back seems long. Teixeira arrived in spring training Wednesday saying he was running 100 percent.
Gardner was hit by a pitch on his right wrist April 13 but still put together a solid first half that resulted in him being named an All-Star thanks to a .302 batting average. Then he batted .206 following the break. On a conference call after being named hitting coach, Alan Cockrell said the right wrist compromised Gardner late in the season.
“It is hard to say if the wrist impacted the way I was playing,’’ Gardner said. “The last couple of months I know my play tailed off and went into the offseason knowing I didn’t finish well.’’
In addition to dealing with the wrist problem that altered his offseason workouts, Gardner heard about his name in trade talks.
“I don’t follow it too much but it’s hard not to hear about it. A lot of people you run into ask about it and my answer to them is ‘You are going to know more about it than I do,’ ” Gardner said. “I don’t have a Google alert set up on myself on my phone like some people might. I try not to pay too much attention to it.’’
With Opening Day against the Astros at the Stadium not until April 4, the Yankees have time on their side.
“I know he feels good, we are taking it slow,’’ Cashman said. “Spring training is long enough, we don’t have to be rushing. It’s going in the right direction. At this point, taking the safe route.’’