Yankees’ Derek Jeter thinks he’s close to playing games in minors

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter says he thinks he is close to feeling well enough to begin playing in minor league games.

Jeter says he is now doing everything needed before beginning a rehabilitation assignment.

“I’m anxious to be playing in games,” Jeter said after working out Thursday at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. “When they tell me to play, I’ll play.”

On Wednesday, Jeter ran the bases after putting the ball in play during simulated at-bats for the first time since a second break was found in his left ankle. He is expected to rejoin the Yankees after the All-Star break.

“Everything felt good,” Jeter said.

Jeter has been out all season. He broke his ankle in the opener of the AL Championship Series on Oct. 13. After surgery, he played only five spring-training games because of soreness. A new break was discovered on April 18.

Gordon feeling better

Kansas City’s Alex Gordon told Manager Ned Yost that he was feeling better after sustaining a possible concussion Wednesday night against Cleveland, though it’s still not clear how long the Gold Glove outfielder will be out.

Gordon was tracking a fly ball off the bat of Jason Kipnis in the sixth inning when he became turned around near the fencing of the Royals’ bullpen. He banged into the fence and then landed hard on the warning track dirt, where he remained motionless for several minutes.

Gordon eventually walked off the field with what the team called a possible concussion and a bruised right hip. He said afterward that he didn’t remember whether he lost consciousness.

Major League Baseball and its players’ union adopted a series of protocols on how to deal with concussions about two years ago, including the creation of a seven-day disabled list.

Under terms of the policy, players who are suspected of sustaining a concussion are tested immediately and again in subsequent days. If experts determine there’s a concussion, the player goes on the seven-day DL for no more than 14 days, at which point he heads to the 15-day DL.