Teixeira Back in the Swing of Things

May 3, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) is congratulated by Yankees catcher Brian McCann (34) and left fielder Brett Gardner (11) after hitting a two-run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Teixeira was one of the Yankees’ biggest question marks heading into the 2014 season. In 2013, Tex was only able to play in 15 games before opting for surgery on his left wrist after cortisone injections failed to fix the problem. Wrist problems are never good for a player who heavily relies on his power at the plate, especially when it is the one that drives the bat through the zone. You could tell that Teixeira was favoring his wrist in his swing in spring training and the first couple of game of 2014. By favoring his wrist, he created more holes in his once consistent swing. “I got into such bad habits last year protecting my swing,” he told NJ.com. “My swing was awful.”

After an early season DL stint, he has come on strong. Coming into today, Teixeira has homered four times in his last five game, including a two run shot Saturday to pull the Yankees within a run of the Rays. Teixeira went as far to call his time on the DL as “a blessing in disguise” as it allowed him to give his wrist some rest and get it stronger.

Along with the rest, Tex has cut his pregame swings down to make sure he doesn’t over work his wrist. Whatever he is doing, he should keep doing it. The last time he has seen a home run streak like this was back in 2011. His final stats for that season? 39 home runs and 111 RBI’s.

Right now, Teixeira is starting to make that Yankee middle of the order look scary again. Brian McCann got off to a slow start and Carlos Beltran has cooled off a bit after a hot start, but with Tex swinging the way he is, he makes life a little easier for those two. Joe Girardi never lost confidence in Teixeira, even when most were writing him off as that dominant switch hitter he was pre-injury. “I said all along he’s a guy who could hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs for us,” Girardi said. “When I saw him start letting it go last week left handed, it made me feel a bit better.” Judging by this past week, nothing is bothering his swing anymore, and that is great news for the Bronx Bombers.