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TAMPA - Yankees first baseman Nick Johnson swung a bat Monday for the first time since injuring his right hand in May.
Johnson reported no problems after taking swings with a fungo bat. He has started a throwing program but is not catching the ball.
"A step forward," Johnson said. "It felt good."
Johnson hurt himself swinging May 14 and was placed on the disabled list two days later. Tests showed he had a stress fracture in his right hand.
There is no timetable for Johnson rejoining the Yankees, though the team hasn't ruled out a return before the end of this month.
Johnson, 24, has been slowed by hand and wrist injuries in recent years.
Meanwhile, the Yankees placed outfielder Bubba Trammell on the restricted list one day after the former Devil Ray unexpectedly left the club for unspecified personal reasons.
"There's obviously something going on," manager Joe Torre said. "I just hope everybody's healthy."
Trammell was supposed to start in leftfield against the Mets on Sunday night. But before the game, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman received a call from Trammell's agent, Ed Hardison, saying the player would not be at Yankee Stadium.
Torre said he had not had any contact with Trammell and believed Hardison knew of the outfielder's whereabouts. Cashman said Trammell's situation was not related to a death but did not provide any other details.
NEGRO LEAGUES JERSEYS: The estates of some Negro Leagues players, including Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, signed licensing agreements that will allow replicas of their jerseys to be sold. Also signing agreements with Headmaster Inc. was the estate of Roy Campanella, Monte Irvin, Minnie Minoso and Don Newcombe, said Joe Yoon, the company's executive vice president. The jerseys will cost $300 and be available in October, Yoon said.
A'S: Rightfielder Jermaine Dye's return from a knee injury was delayed because the team said he needed another day off as a precaution. Dye has played once since missing a June 22 game with a troublesome right knee.
BRAVES: Right-hander Paul Byrd is scheduled for reconstructive surgery today on his pitching elbow. Byrd had bone chips removed from the elbow April 11.
CARDINALS: Chris Widger, a catcher who went to the minors to work on other positions, is back in the majors at his primary spot. Widger was activated from the disabled list when catcher Joe Girardi went on the DL with a lower back strain.
ORIOLES: Outfielder and AL batting leader Melvin Mora tested his ailing right hand in the cage, then declared himself healthy enough to play against the Yankees. Mora hurt the hand June 20 when hit by a pitch from Atlanta's Greg Maddux. He missed four games, then played four before sitting out Sunday when the pain returned.