New York Yankees Photo Day

Brendan Ryan #17 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait on Feb. 27, 2015 at George M. Steinbrenner Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (Photo by Elsa | Getty Images)

TAMPA, Fla. -- Could this be the start of another disappointing spring training for Yankees shortstop Brendan Ryan?

Ryan will miss the next five days with a mid-back strain he suffered while lifting weights days before spring training. The backup shortstop had an MRI on the injury in Tampa on Thursday.

But what, exactly, was Ryan doing? "An eyewash exercise," Ryan call it. The proper term: Bicep curls.

Ryan could only laugh at himself. "What am I going to do? Go from two homers to four?"

Ryan hasn't homered since 2013.

Ryan, 32, also missed much of spring training last year and all of April with a back strain. He entered camp hoping to compete for at-bats with shortstop Didi Gregorius.

Ryan has been better hitter against lefties than Gregorius, who's better against righties and, at 25 years old, is considered the Yankees' shortstop of the future.

Ryan has one year left on his two-deal with a player option for a third. He's set to make $2 million this season.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.