TAMPA — No specific end date has been set for ace Gerrit Cole Watch as he undergoes further testing on his pitching elbow.
The Yankees hope to end Aaron Judge Watch on Saturday.
Manager Aaron Boone said it is “determined” that Judge will return to the batting lineup and center field when the Yankees face the Blue Jays on Saturday at Steinbrenner Field.
The Yankees captain had not swung a bat since Sunday and required an MRI on his abdomen on Monday, which came back “normal,” the judge and Boone said.
On Sunday, Judge was removed from the spring game in his second at-bat, when most regulars were batting in their third at-bat.
The judge and Boone said the early departure was planned.
Judge was out of both lineups on Monday’s split-squad day, when Boone called him a “mid-spring beat-up” and Judge underwent a core test.
On Tuesday, the judge said he hopes to resume swinging later this week.
Boone said he participated in Tuesday’s outfield practice but was absent from Wednesday’s practice, with Judge working out and receiving treatment in his place.
“I’m just trying to make sure this doesn’t become a big deal,” Boone said of his abs issue.
Judge said Tuesday he is “pretty confident” he will be ready for the March 28 opener in Houston.
But he didn’t want to guess this far.
Judge has 16 at-bats in six Grapefruit League games and said he usually feels comfortable heading into the season after about 30 at-bats in the spring. (Though, he added, he can catch up if he works against a pitching machine.)
Boone said he doesn’t know when Judge will resume hitting and said he expects to be able to play Saturday without having to increase his swing.
Clark Schmidt will jump over Nestor Cortez in the rotation and start Friday against the Pirates in Tampa.
That would put Schmidt, who had pitched every six days, on a normal regular-season rest schedule.
For now, Cortez is continuing his every-six-day schedule while stretching after suffering rotator cuff issues last season and this offseason.
Right-handed relief pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga has been pitching in live batting practice sessions rather than in games and is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday.
Oswaldo Cabrera, who wore No. 33 instead of his usual No. 95 on Tuesday, hasn’t actually changed his jersey number.
He had brought the wrong jersey to a road game.
The Yankees have reassigned right-hander Duane Underwood Jr. and infielder Josh VanMeter to minor league camp.
