ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Aaron Judge was back in line-up and right field for the Yankees against the Rays on Saturday after missing the previous two games with pain on his left side.
But there is still not much clarity about Judge’s “injury” situation.
After Judge hit one goal and two strikeouts in a 4-0 loss at Tropicana Field, manager Aaron Boone said the right fielder looked okay.
Judge, who had last played Tuesday, sat out Wednesday’s game, before the Yankees off-day Thursday.
When asked what told him Judge was ready to return, Boone said, “Him.”
Despite Judge’s return, Boone said the Yankees will be watching him closely. … We will certainly monitor how he moves. “
If Judge doesn’t report problems, Boone said he expects to start again on Sunday.
Still, there was no answer to what had happened to Judge in the first place.
“I think it was a gradual kind of workload,” Boone said. “Probably a lot of swinging, doing a lot of cage work, that led to some pain that developed over time.”
And that came less than a week into the regular season.
Boone said Judge wanted to play on Friday, but the manager wanted to be careful of the injury-prone slugger, who has had rib and oblique issues in the past. The Yankees still haven’t specified exactly what Judge is dealing with. When he also missed the last three games of spring practice, the team said the first two were rest days and the third because he was dealing with allergies.
“It’s always good to write his name in it,” Boone said. “We just try to be gentle with him at first [in the season], don’t want this to be something that becomes a problem. Hopefully we can get past that. “
Judge homered in each of his previous two games, but didn’t seem comfortable on base or in the field on Wednesday.
Jay Bruce hit ninth for the first time in his career on Saturday and was 0-for-3, expanding his slump to 3-for-27. He is hitless in 14 consecutive at-bats.
“In the first three or four games, he had a lot of good at-bats,” said Boone. “He has struggled a bit in the last few matches. That’s going to happen all season. He’s a little rotten. “
On how Bruce plays at first base, Boone said, “I think he’s done a lot of good things there,” but he needs more time to play to become “second nature” to him. There is still room for growth there. “
Gio Urshela said he felt “much better” after being on COVID-19’s injured list on Friday after a negative reaction to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, leaving him “a little weak” Thursday and Friday. felt.
Clint Frazier, without a hit in 13 at-bats, didn’t start Saturday, but Boone said it [off], ”With the left-swinging Brett Gardner against Ray’s right-handed Chris Archer.
Boone said Frazier remains his starting left fielder, adding that he didn’t think Frazier was “pushing”.
“It’s been a few games, he’s having a hard time and is a little bit out,” Boone said. “It’s part of the ebb and flow [of a season]It’s not something I’m worried about in the long run. He’ll get through this. “
Left-handed Justin Wilson, activated from the 10-day IL on Friday after he was out with a left shoulder infection, said he was “fine.” He threw a scoreless inning on Saturday.