YES Network.com

After visits to two elbow specialists, Brett Gardner found out that his return from injury will have to wait another three-to-four weeks.

Gardner saw Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Monday, and a follow-up with Dr. Timothy Kremchek in Cincinnati on Thursday confirmed Andrews' initial opinion that the muscle strain, bone bruise, and joint inflammation in Gardner’s right elbow won’t need surgery, simply rest and minor treatment.

Kremchek administered cortisone shots and some platelet-rich plasma therapy to Gardner’s elbow during the follow-up and put the Yankees' left fielder in a brace, which he will wear for the next few weeks before being re-evaluated in early-July.

Gardner has been out since April 18, and was shut down from his second rehab assignment last Saturday after once again feeling soreness and stiffness following a Minor-League game. Yankees manager Joe Girardi had said that another setback on the road to recovery would likely keep Gardner out through the All-Star break, a theory that has now become reality for the Bombers.