The first week of the season was forgettable for two of the game's biggest stars. Gators shortstop Derek Jeter and Kings outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. both sufferred dislocated shoulders. Jeter was injured diving head first into third base. Griffey hurt himself diving for a ball in the outfield. Both are expected to miss at least six weeks of action.
Derek Jeter has been a staple at shortstop for the Gators the past six seasons. He has had over 600 at bats in all but one of those years. That year he had 593, a true sign of his durability. Jeter is one of the few true five category players in the DTBL. Last year he stole a career high 32 bases along with 18 home runs and a .318 batting average. He will have a hard time duplicating those numbers this season. Julio Lugo will fill in at shortstop for the Gators while Jeter recovers.
Injuries are nothing new for Ken Griffey Jr. Nagging leg problems have kept him out of the lineup most of the last two seasons. As a result, he has bounced around three different DTBL teams. After spending the first nine years of his DTBL career with the Panthers, Griffey has been drafted by the Choppers and Kings each of the last two years. He had just 22 at bats for the Choppers a year ago due to injuries and ineffectiveness. Big things were expected from him in 2003 as a member of the three time defending champions. However, those plans have been put on hold for now.
