VIERA, Fla. -- Jacoby Ellsbury said he was encouraged by how he felt after taking swings off a tee and soft toss Wednesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, his first baseball activity since being hit by a pitch on his right wrist Saturday.
Ellsbury will take batting practice prior to Thursday's game against the Rays, and manager Joe Girardi said there is a chance Ellsbury could play if he feels good.
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"Considering I'm only a few days out, I'm happy with how I feel," Ellsbury said back in Tampa. "Very pleased with how it went today. Very fortunate it's nothing worse."
Ellsbury said he could have taken batting practice Wednesday considering how good he felt, but the Yankees wanted to exercise caution and have him go through a progression. He was plunked in the hand by the Braves' Julio Teheran on Saturday.
Ellsbury had an X-ray and a CT scan at a local hospital, both of which came back negative, although there is still some swelling in his wrist.
"Every day it's improved and getting better," Ellsbury said. "I'm sure there will be, when I get back, there will be a little bit of swelling in there, but nothing crazy."