Jeter upbeat after 3rd week of baseball activities

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter is upbeat after completing his third week of baseball activities.

Winslow Townson

FILE - in a Sept. 14, 2013 file photo, New York Yankees' Derek Jeter looks on from the dugout during their 5-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox in a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston. Jeter has taken on-field batting practice for the first time since his 2013 season was cut short by injuries, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014. Jeter hit with authority to all fields during a five-round, 39-swing session Monday at the Yankees' minor league complex. Jeter also took grounders at shortstop for the first time this year, fielding 34 balls at his usual position. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)

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FILE - in a Sept. 14, 2013 file photo, New York Yankees' Derek Jeter looks on from the dugout during their 5-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox in a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston. Jeter has taken on-field batting practice for the first time since his 2013 season was cut short by injuries, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014. Jeter hit with authority to all fields during a five-round, 39-swing session Monday at the Yankees' minor league complex. Jeter also took grounders at shortstop for the first time this year, fielding 34 balls at his usual position. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)

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Jeter, who turns 40 in June, was limited to 17 games last year after breaking his left ankle during the 2012 AL championship series. Ahead of spring training, he is taking batting practice, fielding grounders and has resumed a running program.

"I feel good," Jeter said Friday after working out at the Yankees' minor league complex. "I've been working hard, and I've had a complete offseason to work out and strengthen everything."

Jeter started his off-field work in November, something he wasn't able to do after the 2012 season when he was still using a walking boot into January due to ankle surgery.

"It's been fun, but it's been difficult because you're starting over from scratch," Jeter said. "Basically going for pretty much a whole year where you can't really work out. It's a long process, but it's been enjoyable now to get back to this point."

The shortstop missed the first 91 games of the 2013 season, then felt pain in his right quadriceps when he returned July 11. He went back on the DL, returned July 28 for three games, then strained his right calf.

Back in the lineup on Aug. 26, he played through Sept. 7, when he left for a pinch runner after singling against Boston. Four days later the Yankees said his season was over. Jeter wound up hitting .190 (12 for 63) with one homer and seven RBIs.

When asked if he has given any thought about this possibly being his last season, Jeter replied that he's "focused on one year at a time."

NOTES: The Yankees will hold an introductory news conference for Japanese RHP Masahiro Tanaka at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. "I think everyone is curious," Jeter said. "Everything they say about him has been all positive. Any time you add pitching, it's going to help us out."

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