Jeter could miss 4-5 months after surgery

The New York Yankees have announced that Derek Jeter has elected to have surgery on his fractured left ankle and is expected to need approximately four to five months for a complete recovery, according to the team's website.

The Yankees captain — who broke his ankle going left for a ground ball in New York's loss to the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the American league Championship Series — is scheduled to have the surgery performed by foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson on Saturday in Charlotte, N.C..

Jeter — who has been fitted with a splint and using crutches — did not travel with the team to Detroit for the ALCS and spent the last few days getting an MRI and CT scan in Charlotte.

Doctors initially said that the 38-year-old Jeter could rejoin the Yankees within three months and believed there would be enough recovery time for him to make training camp in February.

Five months of  recovery and rehab would delay his return until sometime in the middle of the Grapefruit League exhibition schedule.  Any setbacks could postpone his return and possibly put his Opening Day status in jeopardy.

The team still expects Jeter to be ready for spring training.  You can bet Jeter does.