Jeter, Hughes and Colon All Closingin on Return

Jeter update from Wallace Matthews:

Just got done speaking with GM Brian Cashman, who said Derek Jeter had "a great day'' of rehab today in Tampa, including running the bases "full-bore,'' and could be activated in time to play in next week's three-game series with the Indians in Cleveland starting on July 4.

Cashman also told Matthews that Jeter might play in a couple rehab games in Trenton this weekend.

Hughes update from Mike Mazzeo:

New York Yankees right-hander Phil Hughes moved closer to getting back on a major league mound.

Hughes had his most encouraging rehab start on Wednesday afternoon, going 6 1/3 innings while allowing one earned run for Double-A Trenton. He left to a standing ovation at Waterfront Park with two men on in the seventh.

With general manager Brian Cashman and vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman among a contingent from the Yankees‘ brass in attendance, the 25-year-old allowed just three hits, walked two and struck out eight.

Hughes’ fastball sat in the 87-94 mph range. He threw 61 of his 88 pitches for strikes, while getting more swinging strikes (20) than any of his previous two rehab outings combined. Forty- eight of Hughes’ 88 pitches -- or 54.6 percent -- registered between 91-94 mph. Over the first six innings, his fastball reached 93 mph 18 times.

Five days from now, Hughes could pitch for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which hosts Lehigh Valley on July 4.

Colon update from Wallace Matthews:

GM Brian Cashman said the Yankees "were inclined to bring back'' Bartolo Colon to pitch against the Mets this weekend at CitiField, most likely for Saturday afternoon's game. Earlier, Joe Girardi said his Saturday starter was "Mr. TBA,'' and said it would be either Colon or Brian Gordon. But Cashman made it sound as if it would be an upset if anyone but Colon was on the for the mound in the middle game of Subway Series II.

"If he looks the way we’ve been told than I think yeah, we’re inclined to bring him back for this weekend,' Cashman said on the field before tonight's Yankees-Brewers game at Yankee Stadium. "I think that's our mindset. Bottom line is, as long as everything goes right, I think you’ll see him this weekend.''

Good news all around. Nice!