Aaron Judge is clearly making an effort to be prepared for the postseason, but as of Sunday morning—just two days before Game 1 of the AL wild-card series—he hasn’t engaged in any baseball activities yet.
Currently, the three-time MVP is focusing on rehab, incorporating some plyometric exercises and using the treadmill in hopes of being fit enough to join the roster against the Red Sox.
“Not much has happened yet,” manager Aaron Boone remarked during a rainy Sunday at Yankee Stadium.
It’s uncertain whether Judge will need to actually practice—like hitting or running, which are pretty critical given his calf strain—before the Yankees would allow him on the wild-card roster.
“It’s Sunday,” Boone noted. “We’ll wait until Tuesday morning to finalize our [roster]. We’ll assess the situation, and together with the trainers and medical staff, we will make a decision.”
Earlier this week, Boone mentioned that the Yankees were not expecting Judge to be part of the wild-card roster, yet he kept the possibility open. Judge, not thrilled about this, reiterated he plans to be available for the series.
When asked if there was a scenario where Judge might not be ready for Tuesday, but could be included later in the series, Boone admitted he hadn’t yet discussed that with the trainers.
“We’ll have those conversations when we make a decision,” he said. “Those possibilities will definitely be weighed.”
Judge’s situation adds an element of uncertainty as the Yankees finalize their 26-man roster for the match-up against the Red Sox. They’re also considering Giancarlo Stanton, Trent Grisham, and Ryan Weathers, each of whom is returning from injuries.
Stanton, who has spent the last five months recovering from three separate calf strains, is expected to be a pinch hitter. Grisham, sidelined with a hamstring strain since early September, might start in center field against right-hander Sonny Gray, which would shift Spencer Jones to right field and place Heliot Ramos on the bench. Weathers is anticipated to be a one-inning reliever after recovering from a left forearm flexor strain, and he could provide a left-handed option that’s currently lacking.
“I’m ready to go physically,” Grisham stated Sunday morning.
“I feel really healthy, so we’ll see how it unfolds,” added Weathers, who threw a 15-pitch live batting practice on Friday against Grisham and Stanton.
Boone shared that Weathers is “very much in play for this round,” anticipating a decision to be made by Monday.
“I like how he’s progressing,” Boone commented. “He seems healthy and looks good.”
Regarding Stanton, while the veteran designated hitter has been hitting during his lengthy absence, it raises the question of whether that’s sufficient for a seamless transition into the playoffs.
“I think nobody knows their body better than Big G,” Boone expressed. “He’s always honest and upfront about his condition. Plus, his proven track record in tough situations gives us some confidence. We’ll make those choices probably on Monday.”
