Derek Jeter: New York Yankees' Shortstop Injures Calf on Quest to 3,000 Hits

Derek Jeter’s pursuit of 3,000 career hits may have to wait. 

The New York Yankees shortstop left Monday night’s game against the Cleveland Indians in the fifth inning with a calf injury.

An MRI after the game revealed that Jeter had a Grade I calf strain. It is unknown how much time Jeter will miss, but manager Joe Girardi said it is unlikely he will return for Tuesday night’s game versus the Texas Rangers.

Jeter led off the bottom of the first inning and advanced to third base but did not score. The hit gave him 2,994 for his career, all with the Yankees. In the second inning Jeter grounded into a fielder’s choice before injuring his calf running out a fly ball leading off the fifth inning.

After Jeter reached third base in the first, only two more Yankee base runners advanced that far in the remainder of the game. The Indians went on to win the game 1-0 as Carlos Carrasco struck out seven over seven scoreless innings, shutting out the Yankees for the first time since the Red Sox did on May 14.

Jeter had hoped to reach 3,000 hits in front of the home fans, but his injury puts that goal in jeopardy. The Yankees will play a three-game series at home against the Rangers, then head to Chicago for a weekend series against the Cubs.  

New York will not return to Yankee Stadium until Friday the 24th, when they will lay the Colorado Rockies.

Jeter re-signed with the Yankees in the offseason after a series of highly publicized contract negotiations. The former Rookie of the Year and 11-time All-Star is the Yankee’s all-time leader in hits and is in his 17th season with the team.