TAMPA, Fla. – While Aaron Judge continues to recover from a right flexor strain that sent the Yankees’ captain to the injured list late last month, manager Aaron Boone suggested Tuesday in a radio interview that the All-Star’s throwing could be compromised for the rest of the season.
"We’re trying to get through where he can let it go with ease and be able to protect himself,” Boone said on WFAN. “I don’t think we’re going to see him back to throwing like he normally does at any point this year, but that’s OK, too. We’ve got to feel like he can go out there and be able to protect himself and represent himself.”
Judge continued his throwing program at George M. Steinbrenner Field prior to crushing one of the Yankees' franchise-record-tying nine homers in a 13-3 win over the Rays, then pushed back on the assertion that his throwing may not return to 100 percent this year.
“I don’t know why he said that,” Judge said. “He hasn’t seen me throw for the past two weeks. I’m pretty confident I’ll get back to it.”
Speaking with reporters prior to Tuesday’s game, Boone clarified his remarks.
"I think I was trying to say, initially, I don’t expect him coming out and making Aaron Judge throws that we’ve become accustomed to seeing,” Boone said.
Boone said he does not anticipate Judge returning to the outfield during the club’s series against the Rays but is leaving open the possibility that Judge may return to the outfield against the Red Sox, with a four-game series set to begin Thursday in New York.
Judge’s throwing has increased to 150 feet, though he has not yet thrown to bases. Judge said he is not concerned about throwing at full force, likening his injury recovery to “a guy that pulls a hamstring.”
"I’m not stupid, so I’m going to be cautious with it and make sure we don’t make it worse,” Judge said. “We’ve got the rest of August, September and October. I’ve got to be out there for all those games. So I’ve just got to be smart with it.”
Judge sustained the injury on July 22 in Toronto, when television replays showed him grimacing after a throw from right field. Judge remained in that game, then played the next two games against the Blue Jays and Phillies before landing on the IL July 27.
The Yankees said imaging at the time revealed “no acute injury” to Judge’s ulnar collateral ligament. Judge returned to the lineup as a designated hitter on Aug. 5 at Texas and has played 11 games since, batting .229/.426/.429 (8-for-35) with a double, two homers and six RBIs.
“We’re on the right track,” Judge said.
Giancarlo Stanton started in right field on Tuesday; Stanton was limited to one pinch-hit plate appearance this past weekend in St. Louis after playing three consecutive games in right field against the Twins Aug. 11-13.
The team has been cautious with Stanton, saying that he experienced difficulty bouncing back after playing the field. The Yankees’ initial plan is to have Stanton play the field on Tuesday against the Rays, but not on Wednesday.
"He and I talked Sunday and set the plan,” Boone said. “We talked about [Stanton [playing] one of the two and felt like this first one was the best one.”
The Yankees activated outfielder Amed Rosario on Tuesday, while placing left-hander Brent Headrick on the 15-day injured list with a left forearm contusion. Catcher J.C. Escarra was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.