Two-time American League MVP Aaron Judge could make his return to the New York Yankees’ lineup on Tuesday.
Judge has been on the 10-day injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow, but he has been hitting off Yankees minor league pitchers at the team’s complex in Tampa for the past few days. He was expected to join the Yankees in Texas as they opened a three-game series against the Rangers.
New York manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Monday that Judge could make his return to the lineup on Tuesday.
“I don’t want to say definitely because I haven’t seen him yet, but I think that’s the plan,” Boone said. “I think he’s expected in here tonight and we’ll make that call.”
An MRI did not reveal acute damage to Judge’s ulnar collateral ligament. The outfielder received a platelet-rich injection on July 27 and was placed on the 10-day IL retroactive to the previous day.
Boone noted that if Judge does make his comeback, he will do so as a designated hitter. He will play catch while with the Yankees to help the team determine when he could return to the outfield.
“I’m hoping that Judgie’s clean and is playing catch either (Tuesday) or the next day,” Boone said, “and we’ll start to get an idea about a timeline for that and then we’ll see when we get back home what happens there.”
Judge has batted .342 this season, best in the majors, to go along with 37 home runs (fourth in MLB) and 85 RBIs (fifth).
–Field Level Media
