Aaron Judge’s comeback looms large for Yankees-Mets clash

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Yankees captain Aaron Judge participated in batting practice, fielding drills, and light running on the bases on Friday. After facing live pitching on Sunday, the Yankees are likely to reveal his date for return to the active roster. According to sources, it can’t be ruled out that Aaron Judge may make his potential return to the Yankees series against the Mets that begins on Tuesday.

On Sunday, there is a possibility of Aaron Judge facing rehabbing reliever Jonathan Loaisiga, who is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session to come back from an elbow injury. The Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, has already told that the team will decide on Aaron Judge’s comeback after his live at-bats.

Manager Aaron Boone mentioned that by the end of the weekend, they might have a timeline for his return from the torn ligament in his right big toe if everything goes smoothly and Aaron Judge keeps progressing with the baseball activities he’s been doing.

According to the manager, there is a possibility for Aaron Judge to ramp up his baseball activities during that time.

“We’re not at that point exactly yet,” he told. “Let’s get through this weekend.”

Aaron Judge looks to play with ‘manageable’ discomfort

When asked about the toe injury, Aaron Judge responded that it’s tough to say if the only issue was pain or any concern about reinjuring the toe. He admitted that he hadn’t received a clear answer on that matter.

Aaron Judge also commented that he would have to manage the side effects of this injury throughout the entire season. The Yankees slugger the injury won’t be completely pain-free, but they were working to make it as manageable as possible.

“It’s not gonna be pain-free, but as close to manageable as we can get it,’’ he said.

The AL MVP mentioned that he felt discomfort mainly when moving from side to side rather than running straight ahead and the injury would continue to affect his back foot.

Aaron Judge has been absent from the game for nearly two months since the injury occurred while making a catch at Dodger Stadium on June 3. The Yankees will also need to determine whether a minor-league rehab assignment is required before he joins the team.

According to Boone, they haven’t reached that exact point yet to confirm when Aaron Judge would be back. The manager was participating in Judge’s baseball camp for his All Rise Foundation at Fordham University and expressed optimism that the Yankees captain would be back “soon.”

When asked about the potential timeline for his return, if it would be “days or weeks,” Aaron Judge expressed uncertainty, saying “It’s a flip of the coin.”

However, Aaron Judge added that he was hoping to come back as an outfielder and not just be limited to the designated hitter (DH) role.

Aaron Judge on Yankees’ slump

The Yankees, who are currently in last place in the AL East, will take any contribution they can get from him as they await his return. Their captain acknowledged that it was tough to witness the team’s struggles while he was on the injured list. He stated that he didn’t like being sidelined at any time, even if the team was winning every game. However, the slugger emphasized that during a challenging period like this, it becomes even more difficult for him to be unable to contribute to the field.

Despite the change in hitting coach from Dillon Lawson to Sean Casey, Aaron Judge remains hopeful and positive about the potential benefits it could bring to his performance. However, the desired improvements have not been fully realized yet.

Aaron Judge mentioned that the Yankees are currently facing difficulties being in one of the toughest divisions in baseball, and he acknowledged the challenges of having their backs against the wall. However, he said he believes in the team’s resilience and veteran presence, stating that they have been in similar situations before and are capable of rebounding.

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