Yankees' Aaron Judge takes some swings but is unlikely to play Saturday
Yankees centerfielder Aaron Judge takes batting practice before a spring training game against the Rays on Wednesday in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Charlie Neibergall
TAMPA, Fla. — Aaron Judge took swings indoors Friday, which was progress in his return from what has opaquely been described as an abdominal injury.
But it likely was not enough progress for him to resume playing in Grapefruit League games.
Aaron Boone said Thursday that he expected Judge to hit Friday and then play Saturday, but neither sounded as if that will be the case.
“I don’t know,” Judge said. “We’ll see when that day comes.”
“Probably not,” Boone said on Friday of Judge playing Saturday. “He’s hitting today, tee-and- toss, so instead of continuing to speculate on when he’s going to play . . . He’s doing well. It’s not something we’re concerned with. It’s just making sure that we don’t turn it into an issue, so we’re not going to rush anything. He is tee-and-toss today and we’ll see what he does tomorrow. We’re going to get together and try to map out the next few days.”
Speaking before Friday night’s game against the Pirates, Boone decided to stop the “he’s penciled in” approach when it comes to Judge, who has not played since coming out of Sunday’s game after two at-bats.
Judge went for an MRI Monday, which came back clean, and Boone said late Monday morning in Clearwater before a split-squad game against the Phillies that he expected the team’s captain to be back in the lineup Wednesday.
Judge has seen limited time in spring training, going 2-for-14 in six games. But veteran hitters generally feel spring training is a week too long anyway — Derek Jeter used to say he felt it was seven to 10 days too long — and Boone said Friday he has no worries about Judge having “plenty of runway” to get enough at-bats to feel ready for the season.
“The main goal is to be game-ready for Opening Day,” Judge said. “So we’re just going to work toward that.”
