MRI on Jacoby Ellsbury's knee negative; will be re-evaluated Friday

The New York Yankees have dodged a bullet.

An MRI on outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury's sprained right knee has come back negative.

"It is not anything that requires surgery so we are not holding anything that is doom or gloom," manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday to ESPN's Andrew Marchand. "We just have to see how he responds over the next few days and see what Dr. Ahmad says."

Dr. Ahmad, the team's doctor, is scheduled to see Ellsbury on Friday once the team returns to New York. He will then determine a timetable for the two-time World Series champion's return.

Ellsbury, who leads the team with a .324 average and 14 stolen bases, suffered the injury while swinging the bat Tuesday in a game against the Washington Nationals.