Jeter begins running the bases

TAMPA, Fla. -- With each day, Derek Jeter adds something more to his rehab workouts, but the Yankees shortstop still doesn't have a timetable for returning to the majors.

"I'm sure we'll pick it up the next couple days," Jeter said after a morning session tuesday in which he ran the bases for the first time, a key test of his strained right calf. "Running is probably the most important. [This was the] first day today doing all the bases."

Two days earlier, Jeter had been limited to hitting off a tee and off underhand tosses in a batting cage. Tuesday, he ramped up his batting practice, going from 31 swings Monday to 47. He also took 35 ground balls, then tested his leg with situational running, though never at full speed.

"Today was the first day because of the weather," said Jeter, who had been limited by heavy rains on Sunday and Monday. "You've got to run more on the bases, ground balls, move around a little bit."

Jeter took four runs from home to first base at something between a jog and normal speed, then went through agility drills on the base paths.

Jeter hasn't played since June 13 and is eligible to come off the disabled list Wednesday, though it's clear he still has hurdles to clear before he can do that.

When Yankees manager Joe Girardi was asked before last night's game against Milwaukee about a timetable for Jeter, he could not give one.

SEE PHOTOSDerek Jeter timeline

"We don't have an exact timetable," Girardi said. "He ran today, he ran the bases, he said he felt good. You basically see how he feels tomorrow and just see if you can increase the intensity."

Jeter's next step likely will be a rehab game, but he doesn't know when that will happen, or whether it will be with the Yankees' Florida State League affiliate in Tampa or at a higher level, such as Double-A Trenton.

When asked if the Yankees had discussed a minor-league assignment, Jeter said, "They haven't said. It's probably up to me, I assume, as soon as I can."

Girardi said he didn't know how many more days Jeter would need before he would be ready for a rehab game.

"I can't tell you that," Girardi said. "The one thing you've got to see is, you've got to see him run at 100 percent and you've got to see him recover and see him do it a couple of days in a row before you possibly send him out on a rehab."

Girardi said scheduling Jeter to potentially line up his 3,000th hit at home will not have an impact on his return.

"When he's ready, that's when we want him back," Girardi said. "We can't get caught up in scheduling and trying to get his 3,000th hit at home.''

With Kimberley A. Martin