Jeter scratched after ankle stiffness

CLEARWATER, Fla., March 20 (UPI) -- The New York Yankees' Derek Jeter, coming back from a broken ankle, said he was frustrated after being scratched from an exhibition game, but said it's healing.

He complained of stiffness in his right ankle Tuesday, surgically repaired after it was fractured in October in an American League Championship Series game, and did not play in the Yankees' exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

"I'm not concerned, because I was told this was going to happen. From everything I've been told from the doctors, this is normal," he said.

It remains to be seen if Jeter will be at shortstop on Opening Day, the newspaper said.

Jeter is not the Yankees' only concern. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez is recovering from hip surgery and is not expected in the lineup before mid-season, center fielder Curtis Granderson sustained a fractured forearm in February and first baseman Mark Teixiera revealed Sunday his injured right wrist, initially believed to be a sprain, is a partially torn tendon sheath.