Judge back in right field for first time since injury
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NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge finally received the “thumbs up” he’d been seeking from the Yankees’ training staff on Friday, returning to right field for the first time since sustaining a right flexor strain.
Friday’s nod in the outfield against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium marked Judge’s first defensive assignment since July 22 in Toronto, when television replays showed him grimacing after a throw from right field.
“I’m excited to get him back out there, obviously with what he brings to the table as an athlete for us,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Hopefully it goes well and he continues to build up as we go.”
Boone indicated the team will exercise caution with Judge, saying he doesn’t plan on “going every day with him initially,” opening an avenue for Giancarlo Stanton to continue logging outfield starts several times a week.
“G putting himself in the mix is obviously a big deal, so it’s probably some kind of a shared situation,” Boone said. “We’ll see how Aaron responds day in and day out, coming out of these games. Hopefully it’s something that brings us a spark.”
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Judge remained in the July 22 game at Toronto, then played the next two games against the Blue Jays and Phillies before landing on the injured list July 27.
Since coming off the IL, the 33-year-old Judge has seen all of his action as a designated hitter, batting .242 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 27 games.
Judge recently said he does not anticipate throwing at full velocity initially, likening it to a baserunner coming back from a hamstring strain.
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“I’m not stupid, so I’m going to be cautious with it and make sure we don’t make it worse,” Judge said Aug. 19. “We’ve got the rest of August, September and October. I’ve got to be out there for all those games. I’ve got to be smart with it. I’m not going to go out there and be reckless.”
Boone also suggested in a radio interview that Judge’s arm could be compromised for the remainder of the season -- a statement Judge argued with, prompting Boone to walk it back slightly, saying that he may have overstated the case.
Overall, Judge remains a strong candidate for what would be his third American League MVP Award, hitting .322/.442/.663 with 43 homers and 97 RBIs entering Friday.
“There’s been a lot of steps along the way,” Boone said. “It’s been kind of a buildup, seeing how it responds. Some cases, he responded better than others. He’s put together a few good ones in a row.”