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Hafner encouraged after prodigious BP session

By Bryan Hoch

NEW YORK -- Travis Hafner resumed taking batting practice on Thursday, including launching a tape-measure homer into the second deck in right field, and the Yankees designated hitter said that his right shoulder is improving.

"Everything went really well," Hafner said. "I didn't have any of the issues I had before. I'm really happy with how it went."

Hafner had a cortisone injection in his right shoulder on Tuesday after an MRI examination showed tendinitis. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that he might be able to use Hafner as a pinch-hitter on Thursday against the Mariners.

"I'm really encouraged by today," Hafner said. "Hopefully I'll be back out there soon."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat.
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