ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jacoby Ellsbury isn’t participating in baseball activities as June moves closer to July and the Yankees’ outfield is already a crowded house.
Nevertheless, Ellsbury believes the 2018 season won’t be a complete washout as he continues to get treatment for a lower back problem.
“Oh yeah, that’s the plan,’’ Ellsbury said Friday afternoon outside the Yankees’ complex in Tampa, following a two-hour session inside the facility, when asked if he believed he would return to the big leagues this season.
Ellsbury, 34, hasn’t appeared in a game other than a spring training tilt, due to a basket of injuries. First it was an oblique problem. Then it was plantar fasciitis. Next came a hip ailment, and recently Ellsbury saw a back specialist who diagnosed a problem with his sacroiliac, which is the junction of the sacrum and hip bone.
Ellsbury’s days are limited to treatment and exercise at the facility while waiting to get cleared to begin hitting, running and throwing.
“I am getting better, moving ahead in the right direction,’’ said Ellsbury, who didn’t know when he would be allowed to begin working out. “Hopefully I will be playing in [rehab] games in the near future. Starting baseball activities is the first step.’’
Ellsbury said the key to making the most of his days is believing the rehab program will work.
“You have to come here with a positive attitude and get better,’’ said Ellsbury, who was at Tropicana Field later in the day visiting teammates before the Yankees lost 2-1 to the Rays.
With the Yankees having Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner to play center — Clint Frazier started in the middle of the outfield on Thursday — they have depth at Ellsbury’s position. Barring an injury, if Ellsbury returns it likely will be as a bench player, but until he starts tracking pitches and swinging a bat, it’s impossible to predict when or if he will be ready for major league games.
As for there being a spot on the roster for Ellsbury, who is in the fifth season of a seven-year, $153 million deal, manager Aaron Boone didn’t want to speculate on the subject.
“I feel that is a good bit down the road to being even considering. So much can happen between now and then,’’ Boone said. “First things first and we want to get him back doing baseball things and playing in rehab games. Then you start considering where you are at and what your needs are.’’
