The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. - NFL fans and officials take note. Drew Henson remains committed to baseball.

The New York Yankees had originally hoped the former Michigan quarterback would have been ready to play third base at Yankee Stadium this season.

But struggles at Triple-A Columbus last year put those plans on hold and fueled speculation again that a pro football career might instead be ahead for Henson.

The 23-year-old Henson reiterated Monday that his future is in baseball, even though he remains eligible for the NFL draft in late April.

"I'm not going to go play football," Henson said. "I get defensive probably more so than at first. It offends me because people will think, 'Well, he made a decision and now he's going to switch back.' That's not the type of person I am."

Henson hit .240 with 18 homers and 65 RBIs in 128 games last year at Columbus, striking out 151 times in 471 at-bats. He also made his major league debut, striking out in his only official at-bat, and scoring a run.

Henson gave up football when he signed a $17 million, six-year contract in 2001.

"I want to be in New York and I want to help contribute," Henson said. "Until I'm playing every day in the big leagues, football is going to be an issue. People are always going to wonder because that's what fans do."

Yankees manager Joe Torre talked with Henson last week and told him just to relax.

During an intrasquad game Monday, Henson went 1-for-2 with a single and robbed Alfonso Soriano of a hit with a diving catch at third base.

"He looked loose," Torre said. "I think he's put a lot of pressure on himself. The most important thing for him to do is just enjoy it. Hopefully last year was a good lesson for him."

Henson took more than a month off after playing in the Arizona Fall League, visiting family and friends from San Diego to New York.

"I just got tired and run down," Henson said of his first full pro baseball season. "I ran out of gas. Going into this season, I know how long it's going to be."

Henson admitted being wound up too tight.

"I was complicating things," Henson said. "React and trust my athletic abilities. When everything gets right and I'm where I want to be, I think I'll appreciate it a lot more because of the things I've gone through to get there."