Aaron Judge’s slow road back to the field from a sprained big toe could take another step forward as soon as Friday.
Manager Aaron Boone said he hoped the injured right fielder could “start throwing and maybe even some light hitting by the end of the week.”
When it was pointed out that the end of the week was Friday, Boone said it was “possible” Judge would pick up more baseball-related activities that soon.
Judge has been out since slamming into the fence making a catch against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on June 3.
The Yankees dropped eight of the first 12 games without Judge in the lineup before beating Seattle in two straight games heading into Thursday.
With Judge sidelined, the Yankees have had to rely on call ups from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre like Jake Bauers and Billy McKinney.
“I do feel like he’s turned the corner,’’ Boone said of Judge.
The son of longtime major league catcher Bob Boone, Aaron Boone said the recent spate of controversial calls on plays at home plate are not “a great look for the sport.”
Boone was primarily talking about the play in a game between the Rangers and White Sox on Tuesday in which the review process ruled that Texas catcher Jonah Heim blocked home plate as the White Sox Elvis Andrus tried to score.
The White Sox were given the run, even though it appeared Heim left Andrus a path to the plate.
“Certainly, the last couple days doesn’t feel like such a great look for the sport,’’ Boone said of that play and one involving ex-Yankee Gary Sanchez, now in San Diego, who was called for blocking the plate on Wednesday.
“The Texas one feels like, ‘Come on now,’ ” Boone said.
Those plays, as well as other questionable rulings, have caused the Yankees to review some of their catching protocols, although Boone said both Jose Trevino and Kyle Higashioka were well-versed in the rule.
“[They’re] very aware of what they can do,’’ Boone said. “But there’s some gray in there that’s probably not the best.”
DJ LeMahieu was back in the lineup after sitting for three straight games, in what Boone hoped would be a “reset” for the slumping infielder.
“I’m still really confident he’s gonna get it going,’’ Boone said. “It’s a little odd for a great hitter to go through a stretch where he’s searching. He’s always been able to go out there and hit a line drive with the best of them.”
LeMahieu said Wednesday he spent his time out of the lineup working on his swing to break some bad habits he believes he picked up last year when he played with a fractured foot.
Right-hander Ian Hamilton (groin strain) is expected to pitch one more rehab game in the minors before potentially rejoining the bullpen in time for the road trip that begins Tuesday in Oakland.