Just a day after Judge Aaron made some progress with his injury, the Yankees star edged closer to recovery from a strain in his right elbow flexor.
He was seen fielding the ball in right field alongside Giancarlo Stanton before the Yankees’ 5-4 victory over the Rays in the Bronx on Wednesday night.
With a brief warm-up before the game, the Yankees got a taste of their primary plan: Judge could be an option in the field again. If he needs a bit more time as a designated hitter after returning, there might be a backup plan in place for right field, just in case.
Notably, Judge hasn’t played since last Friday after receiving a PRP injection the next day. He’s expected to stay on the 10-day injury list for the minimum but could return as a designated hitter by Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Stanton made some light throws during pre-game drills, testing the waters for his first time back in the field since 2023.
He mentioned to a reporter on Sunday that he felt like he was “ready” to play in the outfield. But, given his injury history, it’s a bit of a gamble—especially considering he’s dealt with tendonitis in both elbows for much of the first half of the season.
Manager Aaron Boone commented on Stanton’s eagerness, saying, “I think he wants to do it, but we need to keep an eye on him.” This is especially true after Stanton had a solid performance against the Rays, driving in a run late in the game.
Judge first felt pain last Tuesday when making a throw and experienced it again on Friday. At that point, he was having an impressive season, with a batting average of .342, an OPS of 1.160, and 37 home runs.
Fielding was also addressed during the game, particularly with Jasson Domínguez, who nearly made a standout catch in the 10th inning as the Rays loaded the bases. He expressed confidence in making the catch but acknowledged the risks. Boone noted that without that catch, the game could have slipped away.
Ryan McMahon praised Domínguez’s bold playing style, remarking that approaching a wall like that shows a certain fearlessness.
Tim Hill was in top form during the 11th inning, having pitched perfectly. Despite a demanding schedule recently, he’s had an impressive streak, winning 25 out of his last 30 appearances.
The Yankees have made some roster adjustments, selecting JC Escala to the major league roster while temporarily clearing room for outfielder Austin Slater and making Ben Rice a backup catcher. Rice had previously transitioned back to catching while Stanton was recovering from his injury.
Boone mentioned that Lewis Gill is feeling “ready” after starting his fourth rehab assignment. He’s poised to return after maintaining a 5.65 ERA over his rehab outings.
Interestingly, Logan Paul was spotted talking to Judge before the game, creating some buzz given the Yankees’ recent focus on their past with former players, including a Hall of Famer from the Cubs.
