ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Aaron Judge could be back in the New York Yankees’ lineup as early as Tuesday, when their captain is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list after being sidelined because of a flexor strain in his right elbow.
Judge hit off Yankees minor league pitchers at the team’s complex in Tampa for the second day in a row Monday, and was then expected to join the team in Texas. Manager Aaron Boone said the two-time AL MVP could be available Tuesday for the middle game of the three-game series.
“I don’t want to say definitely because I haven’t seen him yet, but I think that’s the plan,” Boone said before Monday night’s series opener against the Rangers. “I think he’s expected in here tonight and we’ll make that call.”
Judge hasn’t played since July 25 because of an elbow strain. An MRI showed no acute damage to his ulnar collateral ligament and he had a platelet-rich injection July 27, when he was placed on the IL in a move retroactive to the previous day.
His .342 batting average was still the best in the majors going into Monday’s games. He was fourth with 37 homers and fifth with 85 RBIs.
If Judge does return while in Texas, Boone said he will be the designated hitter. But the slugging outfielder could also play catch in the next day or so, which will help determine when he could return to the outfield.
“His arm will tell him,” Boone said.
The first time Judge said he felt pain in the elbow was July 22 at Toronto, after he made a strong throw home after George Springer singled to right. An inning later, Judge winced after catching a fly in the right-field corner and throwing to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. Judge was caught by a YES Network camera clenching his right hand in a fist.
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