NEW YORK — Yankees captain Aaron Judge is joining the team for its six-game West Coast road trip, another significant step toward his return to the Major League lineup in September.
Judge will travel with the Yankees for series against the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres. The Southern California trip could allow him to expand his baseball activities, including potentially taking batting practice on the field.
“I’m sure it will be ramped up and a lot more involved,” manager Aaron Boone said before Sunday’s series finale against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. “Hopefully out there, [Judge will] start to get on velocity and things like that. He’ll be part of the pregame stuff and just get more entrenched into getting ready to come back.”
When could Aaron Judge return?
The Yankees have not provided a firm timeline for Judge’s return from a right rib fracture. He is unlikely to be activated during the West Coast trip, but a return during New York’s next homestand remains possible.
The Yankees will host the Colorado Rockies from Sept. 8-10 before facing the New York Mets from Sept. 11-13.
“I feel like if I tell them I’m ready to go play, I think we’re ready to go play,” Judge said earlier this week.
“I’m not a pitcher, I’m a position player. I can get my reps down here in the cage, and I’ve been at every game. I’ve been sitting there in the dugout watching every game, feeling the environment, feeling the energy. I don’t think there’s going to be much of a fight.”
Judge increases baseball activities
Judge suffered the rib fracture during a diving defensive attempt on April 26 in Houston. His most recent Major League appearance came on May 31.
He has not yet faced high-velocity pitching, but his workload has steadily increased. His recovery has progressed from pool work and outdoor running to tee-and-toss drills in mid-August.
More recently, Judge has taken overhand batting practice indoors, thrown from distances of up to 100 feet and shagged fly balls.
Judge said he could increase his hitting volume through a combination of Trajekt, machine work and sessions against pitchers who are also rehabbing. He added that regaining his timing should be “like riding a bike.”
“The toughest thing has been sitting out,” Judge said. “We’re healing up. Now it’s about getting the volume and getting the reps in.”
