TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Yankees catcher Jorge Posada is scheduled to throw to the bases in a game Saturday for the first time since being sidelined by a sore shoulder on April 27.
Posada, who has been in extended spring training, could rejoin the Yankees next week."I just hope everything stays the same and keeps progressing," Posada said Friday.
Posada went 2-for-5 with a walk as the designated hitter in an extended spring game against Tampa Bay minor leaguers. The five-time All-Star is not sure how many minor league games he will need to test the shoulder.
"We'll see after tomorrow," he said. "It's going to be fine. If it feels good, I'll progress from that."
Posada is 6-for-18 with four walks in four extended spring games. He had two singles and an RBI grounder in Friday's game.
Manager Joe Girardi, in Minneapolis for Friday's game against the Twins, expects Posada to return during next week's homestand at Yankee Stadium. The manager indicated he'd like Posada to catch in consecutive games before he's activated.
"He's getting pretty close," said Girardi, after exchanging text messages with Posada.
Carl Pavano, who is rehabbing from surgery to replace an elbow ligament, threw 40 pitches in his latest half-mound session. The right-hander could work off a bullpen mound next week.
