Jones closer to resuming baseball activities

NEW YORK -- Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said on Tuesday that outfielder JaCoby Jones (sprained AC joint in his left shoulder) is close to beginning such baseball activities as taking swings in live batting practice.

Jones sustained the injury in a diving attempt against the Rays on March 23.

But in order to get back with the Major League club, Jones must be able to dive back into a base when a pitcher attempts to pick him off. Gardenhire also wants to see how Jones’ shoulder reacts after he dives for a ball in the outfield.

“How do you simulate that? He is going to have to play in Minor League games and get live action,” Gardenhire said. “That has to happen before we can say, ‘You are ready for this.’

“I know with this AC joint, it’s sensitive. He had a Grade 1 [injury]. It’s serious. We have to really be careful in trying to let him push it too quickly. There are things he has to go through before we get him back up here.”

Keeping Niko warm

Infielder Niko Goodrum was not in Tuesday’s lineup against the Yankees because of a sore right calf, though the injury is not considered serious. Gardenhire simply did not want Goodrum to play in the cold weather, although he did use him as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning of Detroit's 3-1 win. Goodrum drew a walk off Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman and scored on Dustin Peterson's first Major League hit, a double.

Since the season started, Goodrum has played several positions, including center field, first base and second base.