ARLINGTON, Texas
Judge Aaron is making his return, but Giancarlo Stanton isn’t quite there yet.
The Yankees have activated Judge from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, placing him in the lineup as the designated hitter against the Rangers.
He’ll begin a gradual recovery program on Wednesday, though it’s likely to take several days before he’s ready to play in the field again.
In a recent game, Stanton was involved in a double play after Anthony Volpe came in to pinch hit at the top of the ninth inning.
“That’s the tough part,” manager Aaron Boone noted. “G is in a really good spot now. It feels like he’s back to his usual self, consistently putting together at-bats that pose a real threat.”
The mystery lies in when the Yankees will be serious about fielding Stanton upon returning home this weekend.
There are definitely some risk-reward considerations with having Stanton’s bat in the lineup—after all, he’s hit home runs 10 times in the last 24 games. Still, he hasn’t played the field since 2023, which raises concerns about potential injury.
Stanton engaged in pre-game activities in the outfield on Tuesday at Globe Life Field.
Whether he will actually end up playing in the field depends on how much preparation Judge needs to undertake once he’s cleared for fielding.
“I think Boone mentioned something about needing to get prepared for throws, like some pre-throw exercises,” he said. “So far, so good. Hopefully, as he starts that slow program, things will progress quickly.”
The Yankees are hopeful that Judge’s throwing regimen will provide clearer insights into his timeline for a full return to field play.
For now, the mood in the Yankees camp is optimistic with both AL MVPs back in action.
“He seems to have had a solid week leading up to this, so we’re feeling good about it,” Boone remarked. “Fingers crossed that this is just the start of something really promising for him. I think he’s in a great place, so we don’t expect any setbacks.”
On a different note, Jake Bird, who gave up a three-run homer that lost the game, has changed roles and is now out of the big leagues.
The Yankees sent Bird to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hoping it will serve as a reset after struggling during his time there, especially before the Rockies traded him at the deadline.
Alongside this, the Yankees designated JT Brubaker for assignment while also activating Mark Reiter Jr. and Yerry de Los Santos from the injured list.
Alejandro Osna batted in the eighth inning.
Austin Slater was placed on the 10-day injured list due to left hamstring strain, which occurred during the first inning of Monday’s game.
He’s expected to undergo an MRI before the team leaves Texas to assess the severity of the injury and any timeline for recovery.
In a bright spot, the Yankees promoted one of their top pitching prospects, Ben Hess, to Double-A Somerset on Tuesday.
The right-handed pitcher, who was their first-round draft pick last summer, recorded a 3.51 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 66 and two-thirds innings at High-A Hudson Valley. He is set to make his Double-A debut on Wednesday.
