Aaron Judge was notably missing from pregame player introductions Tuesday ahead of Game 1 of the AL wild-card series, then was out of the state altogether Wednesday afternoon.
There was an explanation for both — the latter perhaps more solid than the former — and both had to do with the Yankees captain desperately trying to make it back in time for the ALDS, assuming his teammates can get there.
Aaron Boone indicated that Judge was getting treatment on his right calf strain during Tuesday’s player intros, when the three-time MVP likely would have gotten one of the loudest ovations from the crowd at Yankee Stadium. A few minutes later, though, Judge was in the dugout and on the top step in time for first pitch against the Red Sox.
“I didn’t even know until it happened, but I think a couple of the injured guys weren’t involved in it,” Boone said Wednesday afternoon. “I think he was getting treatment stuff.”
Judge’s absence — during which at least some of the injured and nonroster Yankees players were introduced, like Ryan Weathers, Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill and Michael Fulmer — stoked speculation that either his first time running in the outfield earlier Tuesday did not go well, or this was his way of showing his displeasure with not being on the roster despite trying his best to make it.
But an injury setback seemed to be snuffed out by the fact that Wednesday afternoon, Judge was in Somerset to take live at-bats with the Yankees’ stay-ready group — his second time facing live pitching in three days — with the pitchers there including Luis Gil, Eli Morgan and Justin Topa, among others.
He was expected to be back in The Bronx for Game 2 against the Red Sox.
Boone claimed he did not know whether Judge was scheduled to run the bases in Somerset, which he would likely need to do to be cleared to return as their right fielder for the ALDS.
“I think it’s been encouraging that a couple nights ago [Monday] for the workout he was able to get out there for live BP,” Boone said. “Again, that wasn’t just, he’s just going out for live BP. He had to check a lot of boxes for the trainers and the strength guys to say, ‘OK, you’re ready for that, you can go do that.’
“So I feel like in the couple weeks since the injury, he’s made real strides and significant improvements. And hopefully we’re in a position to make another decision in a couple of days.”
While Boone said it was “too early to tell” whether Judge might be ready in time for a potential ALDS — Game 1 is Saturday against the Rays — a complicating factor is that playing on the turf at Tropicana Field can be unforgiving to players dealing with soft-tissue leg injuries.
“I mean, I guess that could [complicate things], but we’ll see where we are and hopefully making that decision in a couple days,” Boone said.
It is possible the Yankees could carry Judge on their ALDS roster to serve as a DH, but even he has acknowledged that it would be best for the team if he can return as a right fielder because of the logjam at DH/first base involving Game 1 hero Ben Rice, Luis García Jr. and Paul Goldschmidt.
As it is, Boone had García on his bench to start Game 1 against Red Sox lefty Payton Tolle, with Rice DHing and Goldschmidt at first base. Adding Judge into that mix would mean Rice starting at first base every game and relegating both García and Goldschmidt to pinch-hitting opportunities.
The Yankees are currently carrying Giancarlo Stanton strictly a pinch hitter after he missed five months with three separate calf strains, but they have the flexibility to do so because their roster for this three-game series features 16 position players and 10 pitchers.
For the ALDS, they may have to add at least two pitchers, which means removing two position players, further blurring the picture.
