In his interview with reporters after the Yankees’ Saturday loss to the Red Sox, Aaron Judge gave few details about his throwing program.
Judge deferred to trainers when asked whether the slugger, who has been restricted to DH duties since recovering from a right flexor strain, may return to right field during a game. When asked when he might start throwing to bases, he responded in the same way.
However, reporters are not given access to team trainers.
That’s difficult, then,” Judge replied, never wanting to discuss his ailments or recovery schedule. “They might have a good schedule for you,” he continued.
Judge started throwing to bases for the first time since his injury less than twenty-four hours later. Before Sunday’s series finale against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Judge threw to second base and a cut-off man while Yankees outfield coach Luis Rojas was hitting fungoes.
As Judge put it on Sunday, it was like playing catch. It was pleasant.
Aaron Boone, meanwhile, said Judge’s throwing appeared to be good. The manager still lacked a target date for Judge’s in-game comeback to the outfield, though.
Boone said that it’s too soon to tell if Judge will return to the field as a full-time outfielder.
“The most important thing is that we want to do this correctly,” Boone stated. Even if he wants to be out there and we want him to be there, we must make every effort to position ourselves so that he doesn’t get hurt again.
He is definitely missed out there. We’ll hopefully get him out there eventually if we keep up these efforts.
Despite never throwing hard in front of reporters throughout the catch play and long toss portion of his throwing regimen, which has seen him reach 150 feet, Judge advanced to base-throwing. On Sunday, he still threw weakly, but a handful of his throws had more velocity.
Judge remarked, “I wouldn’t say I was at 100%, but it was higher intensity [than playing catch].” By treating the session like a game, he hoped to prevent things from being too fast for him when he defends in a genuine match. It is merely a box to be checked. It would be equivalent to me tossing a ball 150 feet toward a base if I could play catch at that distance. It just comes down to building it up and listening to what the trainers have to say.
When asked how many more times he would need to practice base-throwing before playing outfield, Judge again deferred to the trainers.
Boone stated to WFAN earlier this week that he didn’t think Judge would pitch regularly this season again. The manager later retracted that remark, claiming that he might have exaggerated the circumstances.
In the meantime, the judge criticized the manager’s initial evaluation of WFAN.
Judge remarked at the time, “I don’t know why he said that.” I’m fairly certain I’ll return to [100 percent] because he hasn’t seen me throw in the last two weeks.
The Yankees want to see more offensive output from the MVP candidate’s bat while they wait for Judge to return to the outfield during play.
Judge had only hit.218 in 16 games since returning from the injured list, but he had three home runs, seven RBI, and an OPS of.804 before Sunday’s series finale against the Red Sox.
Judge claimed that he is not affected by his flexor strain when he is at the plate.
Although he understands he can assist the Yankees on both sides of the ball, he added that it has been cruel not to be able to play defense.
Judge said, “I think they all know I want to be back out there,” but he would not disclose whether he has been telling the team he’s ready to play.
