NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter's quest for 3,000 hits is on hold for at least 15 days after the Yankees placed their captain and shortstop on the disabled list today.
The decision was made after Jeter, who left Monday's game against Cleveland with a strained right calf, met with manager Joe Girardi and team doctors about an hour before Tuesday's scheduled 7:05 p.m. ET start (which has been delayed by rain) against Texas.
"It's a little sore, almost feels like you got hit with a pitch," Jeter said earlier Tuesday.
The Yankees were expecting him to miss at least a week, but would have considered not disabling him if doctors felt certain he could return well in advance of the mandatory 15-days on the DL.
Jeter, who is six hits away from 3,000 for his career after a first-inning single Monday, won't be eligible to play until June 29 at home against Milwaukee. That's the next-to-last game of a homestand, after which the Yankees play three games at Citi Field against the Mets and three at Cleveland.
Jeter and Girardi both said the quest for 3,000 was not a factor in the DL decision.
"That's eventually going to happen," said Girardi, who was more concerned about the possibility a longer absence for his leadoff hitter.
"If it's going to be six or seven days, then we don't DL him," Girardi said. "But we risk that he tries to play after six or seven days, reinjures it and then it's two or three weeks."
Girardi already faces dealing with a short bench because catcher Russell Martin is not in the lineup tonight because of a sore back. Martin was scratched from Monday's game after Girardi and Yankees athletic trainers were not satisfied with how he looked in batting practice.
Infielder Ramiro Pena has been recalled from the minor leagues and was going to be added to the roster even if Jeter hadn't gone on the DL. A pitcher would have been sent to the minors in that case.
The Yankees might also have to adjust the roster before Thursday's game once they decide who the starting pitcher will be to take the place of the injured Bartolo Colon. Reliever Hector Noesi is one possibility but the Yankees also are considering bringing David Phelps from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Pa.).
The Yankees also need a full bench for six interleague games beginning Friday -- three against the Cubs in Chicago and three at Cincinnati.
"I guess this wasn't very good timing," Jeter said of his approaching milestone. "It's a little bit frustrating. Even if I wasn't at this point, I'd still be frustrated."
Jeter said his calf had been sore for a couple of days but he said it didn't feel any worse than normal soreness over the course of a season. Then, he felt it grab Monday after playing defense in the top of the fifth inning.
"Running off the field, which is the weird thing," he said. "I thought it was just a charley horse, a cramp. On deck, I was trying to stretch it out."
But when he flied out, he felt enough soreness that he didn't go full speed to first base, then went into the tunnel behind the Yankees dugout with assistant athletic trainer Steve Donohue behind him.
"It's not a problem to play with soreness," Jeter said. "But I don't want to make it worse. I'd try (to play tonight) if they told me I could. I don't think that would be the best case."
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