Yanks hope Ellsbury can play by Thursday

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees re-evaluated Jacoby Ellsbury's bruised right wrist on Tuesday and continue to believe that he will return to their Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday against the Rays.
Ellsbury was plunked by the Braves' Julio Teheran on Saturday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. He had an X-ray and a CT scan at a local hospital, both of which came back negative.
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"It has felt better the last few days," Ellsbury said. "I'm happy it was nothing worse. [I'm] fortunate."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that Ellsbury will resume hitting off a tee and hit soft toss on Wednesday.
"Then if he can take BP, he'll take it after tee and toss," Girardi said. "He will not play [Wednesday]. We'll see about Thursday. He is better, though."
Back to the Minors
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi threw four innings on Tuesday, facing the Blue Jays' lineup in a Minor League game. Eovaldi said that he was satisfied with the tune up, in which he threw 59 pitches and surrendered a three-run homer.

"Other than that, it was good; working on the fastball to both sides of the plate," Eovaldi said. "I was accurate. I didn't walk anybody. The split was good. It felt great. Slider felt good, so it's good."
Heathcott sent down
Outfielder Slade Heathcott, who missed the team bus on Thursday to a game against the Pirates in Bradenton, Fla., was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and sent to Minor League camp on Tuesday.
Heathcott, the Yankees' No. 18 prospect, apologized, saying that he overslept, and Girardi said that the bus incident had nothing to do with the move. Girardi said that Heathcott reported a sore right shoulder on Sunday and though he lobbied to play, the Yankees wanted to be cautious.
"He wanted to play. I said, 'No, let's just wait and see,'" Girardi said. "He went through treatment yesterday and today. We figured it's time for him to go play."