Jul 10, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) smiles during batting practice before the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: New York Yankees at Houston Astros
(New York, NY) — The Yankees opened their second half of the season in Denver with encouraging news.
Aaron Judge (toe) took batting practice Friday, and then did light agility drills, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post.
“I didn’t feel like I was limited at all,” Judge said. “I’d say we’re getting better every single day. It’s not healed, so obviously it is what it is, but we’re progressing every single day.”
Before the All-Star break, Judge had advanced to hitting off a tee and running on an anti-gravity treadmill.
The captain still has many boxes to check, including running the bases and playing in rehab games, but it’s still substantial news.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday that there’s no timetable for Judge to return from the injured list.
Cashman was responding to a rumor that the 31-year-old would be activated “right after” the Mid Summer Classic.
“I’m hearing some grumblings he’s going to be back right after the break, so we’ll see if I’m right,” Bret Boone, the brother of Yankees manager Aaron said during a recent appearance on “The Zach Gelb Show.”
The reigning American League MVP has been sidelined since early June.
The Bombers gone 14-17 since, and rank dead last in the majors in batting (.218) and on-base percentage (.288) in the captains absence.
