Yankees place Derek Jeter on 15-day DL, call up Lilibridge

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As first reported by MLB Daily Dish and subsequently confirmed by the Yankees, Derek Jeter has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, the denouement to the quadriceps strain he had suffered on July 11 when making his season debut for the New York Yankees following a long recovery and rehabilitation for a fractured ankle. With the long All-Star break approaching, the Yankees had decided to play shorthanded until after the break, reevaluating Jeter at that time. Apparently the injury has not healed sufficiently for him to return.

Jeter's disabled list stay was backdated to July 12, so he'll be eligible to return as soon as Saturday July 27 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Should Jeter return at that point, he'll have missed only 11 games.

The Yankees have called up veteran infielder Brent Lillibridge from Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre to take Jeter's place on the roster (a corresponding move to clear a spot on the 40-man has yet to be accounced). The 29-year-old had been acquired from the Cubs on June 21 in exchange for a player to be named later or cash. He's hit .302/.358/.521 at Triple-A this year after going 1-for-24 in a brief stint in the majors.

A career .207/.271/.339 hitter in 347 major-league games, Lillibridge's best season came in 2011 when he hit .258/.340/.505 in 97 games for the White Sox. He slumped to open 2012 amidst sporadic playing time and was quickly out of Chicago's plans. Although primarily a shortstop in the minor leagues, Lillibridge has made more appearances in the outfield and at second base in the majors. He's played very little at third.

Once a highly-regarded prospect, Lillibridge had some early success in the low minors but hasn't hit much at the higher levels and is strictly fringe material. With the Yankees, he'll mostly man the bench while Eduardo Nunez continues to play shortstop.

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