The world’s — or at least The Bronx’s — most-watched hitting progression took another step forward Tuesday.
Aaron Judge was expected to advance to taking batting practice in the indoor cage before the Yankees hosted the Astros, marking the back-to-back AL MVP’s latest step toward returning to the field from a right rib stress fracture as he continues to race against the clock.
There are still more boxes to check — including ones that will be more strenuous than hitting overhand throws from a coach — but it was at least an encouraging development that the first days of Judge’s hitting program have gone well so far. He began hitting off a tee last Thursday, then added underhand tosses before moving to more traditional batting practice Tuesday.
“He’s doing well,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Before hitting in the cage, Judge ran in right field Tuesday afternoon. That came on the heels of Monday, when he threw from over 100 feet — “looks really good throwing,” Boone said — and shagged in the outfield while Max Fried and Brendan Beck were throwing live batting practice.
“Just to get the body used to being out there in the field,” Boone said.
If and when Judge returns, the Yankees expect him to get most of his time in right field as opposed to strictly DHing. He will, of course, get the occasional DH day when needed as he reacclimates to playing every day after missing three-plus months. But with Luis García Jr., Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt rotating at first base and DH depending on the matchup, the plan is for Judge to play the field.
Boone acknowledged that doing so comes with risk — Judge is believed to have initially suffered the rib injury in April while diving on a play in right field to avoid running into Jazz Chisholm Jr. — but it is one the Yankees at least right now believe he is capable of taking.
“I think inherently it does [come with more risk than DHing], just because you’re out in the field and it’s a chance to — I don’t expect him to be diving or things like that — but that brings a greater risk than just swinging,” Boone said. “Playing brings risk. But we’re not going to put him out there where he’s in jeopardy. If he’s not ready to go, he’s not ready to go.”
The bigger unknown is how Judge will respond to ramping up the rest of his hitting progression, most notably hitting against velocity and getting off his best swings — a violent action that should test his rib more than anything.
Yankees Merch Shop
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
Asked if he had gotten any assurances from doctors about Judge regaining his full bat speed and power, Boone said he had not asked that question.
“My expectation is that he’s going to be Aaron Judge,” Boone said.
And in reality, even a slightly diminished version of Judge would be a welcome addition for a Yankees offense that has spent most of his time on the injured list struggling. There have been some more encouraging signs over the past week, and they will need to continue in the coming weeks as Judge tries to finish off the rest of his rehab without any hiccups.
But unlike any other single hitter in the lineup, Judge has the ability to cover up problems and change the game with one swing while lifting up the rest of the hitters around him.
And so the hitting progression continues, with much of the Yankees’ October hopes and dreams banking on Judge being a part of it.
“He’s got a calendar of what they’re doing, but you make adjustments to that as you go,” Boone said. “Definitely mapping things out, but as you check some boxes and move on, sometimes that progress speeds up a little bit, sometimes you take a step back.”
