Curtis Granderson never really recovered from a broken hand at the start of last season, and the Detroit Tigers never fulfilled their potential.

With Granderson healthy, Tigers are predicting a rebound.

"He's a catalyst for our offense," utility player Ryan Raburn said in Lakeland, Fla. "He gets everything started. When he gets on base, he scores runs."

The Tigers started 2008 with great expectations and about a $139 million payroll. But Granderson broke his hand during spring training and it was all downhill from there. Detroit started the season 8-13 on its way to finishing 74-88, worst in the AL Central.

Granderson finished with a .280 batting average and an AL-best 13 triples. But the injury slowed him throughout the season.

"The hand didn't bother me, but everything else did," Granderson said. "My legs weren't there and the timing just wasn't there. When you miss the beginning of the season, it's like you're playing catch-up the rest of the way."

The hand injury is completely behind him now, and Granderson is hoping for something more akin to his 2007: a .302 batting average with 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 homers, 74 RBIs and 26-of-27 on stolen-base attempts in 2007.

"He looks very good," manager Jim Leyland said. "With a (hand injury), it seems like you're not totally right the rest of the year. You probably don't heal until the offseason."

Yankees captain Derek Jeter, meanwhile, has a sore right hamstring and expects to resume running Monday.

Jeter took part in all drills Sunday except a running program.

"It's no big deal," Jeter said in Tampa, Fla. "It's really not an issue."

Jeter said his hamstring soreness will not affect his training for next month's World Baseball Classic. The shortstop is on the United States team.

"It's not a pull. It's not a strain," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It's a little sore. We're going to watch."