Aaron Judge took batting practice, did some fielding drills and even lightly ran the bases before the Yankees’ game Friday at the Stadium, but he has yet to face any live pitching since he went on the injured list early last month.
That could change Sunday when rehabbing reliever Jonathan Loaisiga is set to throw a live bullpen session in his comeback from an elbow injury and Judge will take some at-bats.
If all goes well and Judge continues with all the baseball activities he has been adding to his list, manager Aaron Boone said that by the end of the weekend, there could be a timeline for his return from the torn ligament in his right big toe.
“Potentially,’’ Boone said. “He’ll probably ramp up baseball activities going into that.”
But Judge reiterated he’ll be dealing with the impact of this injury for the rest of the season.
“It’s not gonna be pain-free, but as close to manageable as we can get it,’’ Judge said.
Asked if the only issue was pain or if there was concern he could reinjure the toe, Judge said: “It’s tough to say. I haven’t gotten an answer on that.”
He’s feeling discomfort mostly when moving side to side, rather than just running straight.
And it will continue to affect his back foot.
Whenever Judge returns, he’ll have missed at least close to two months after he suffered the injury crashing into a wall making a catch at Dodger Stadium on June 3.
The Yankees will also have to decide whether a minor league rehab assignment is necessary.
“We’re not at that point exactly, yet,” Boone said.
Judge, who took part in his baseball camp for his All Rise Foundation at Fordham University, said he will be back “soon.”
As to whether it will be “days or weeks,” Judge said, “It’s a flip of the coin.”
He added he’s hoping to return as an outfielder and not be limited to DH.
The Yankees will take what they can get, since they’re in last place in the AL East without him.
“It is tough,” Judge said of watching the team struggle while he’s on the IL. “You don’t like sitting out any moment. If we were winning every single game, it would be tough sitting out. But in a tough spell, it’s even harder.”
The change at hitting coach from Dillon Lawson to Sean Casey has yet to pay dividends, but Judge remains optimistic.
“It’s tough when your back is against the wall and you’re in the toughest division in baseball,” Judge said. “This is a resilient team. This is a veteran team. We’ve been in this spot before and we’re gonna rebound.”
Harrison Bader was not in the lineup on Friday after he was drilled in the ribs with a pitch on Wednesday in Anaheim, but Boone said the team would go “day-by-day” with the outfielder after he was seen by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad and received treatment.
With Bader out of the lineup, the Yankees had Franchy Cordero in left field, Billy McKinney in center and Giancarlo Stanton in right.
The Yankees are already shorthanded in the outfield, with Greg Allen (hip), Jake Bauers (rotator cuff) and Willie Calhoun (quad) all on minor league rehab assignments.
Boone said they would likely decide soon about when to activate Allen, with Bauers and Calhoun expected back later.