Teixeira plans to return on-time for full Spring Training

Mark Teixeira has his entire rehab schedule laid out. It's to the point that he has even planned out his first at-bat against in Spring Training.

"That first game, against Justin Verlander in Lakeland, he throws me a 95-mph fastball on the inside part of the plate, I want to drop the head (of the bat) on the ball," Teixeira said on Monday night during an appearance on the YES Network. "Even if I don't get a hit or get a home run off it, I want to know that I can make a really strong, quick move on an inside fastball at 95 mph, and have no pain, no tightness. Once I do that, then I'll know that I'll be fine for the season."

Teixeira missed all but 15 games last season after having surgery in June to repair a torn tendon sheath in his right wrist. He originally hurt the wrist while practicing with Team USA during the World Baseball Classic.

His plan back then was to return to action by May 1st, but he missed that date by over a month, coming back in June, only to hurt the wrist once more, forcing him to undergo the surgery.

Teixeira says he is currently performing strengthening exercises to rebuild the tendon sheath. He’s been able to do "some really slow swinging, just to make sure the range of motion is there." He laid out his plan in detail last night:

1. Strengthening and flexibility exercises through December.
2. Beginning tee and pitching machine work on January 1.
3. By early February, hitting off a 90-mph machine with authority.
4. Full everyday workouts when spring training opens, but no games in the first week of exhibitions.
5. Begin playing Grapefruit League games in early March.

"I want to slowly build into live batting practice, simulated games, and then start playing games," Teixeira said.

Yankees pitchers and catchers report to camp on February 14th, and all position players will have arrived by Feb. 19th. The first game is Feb. 25th, and a few days later in Feb. 28th, the Yankees take a bus trip up the the Tigers -- the game that Teixeira said he wanted to play in. If he were to play against the Tigers that day, he would have to be ahead of schedule.

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