Is Aaron Judge close to returning? Yankee provides update on his sprained big toe
NEW YORK – One month into his recovery from a sprained right big toe, Aaron Judge repeated that his ability to run will determine when he’ll return to the New York Yankees’ lineup.
“If I can run, then I can play,’’ Judge said. “But me running at 10 percent isn’t going to help anyone.’’
Speaking Tuesday morning at Yankee Stadium, the reigning AL MVP essentially rejected the idea of any in-season surgical procedure on the toe he injured on June 3 at Los Angeles.
But the Yankees captain suggested surgery is still up for discussion this offseason.
“There’s talks of surgery and stuff like that, but I don’t think we’re at that (point),’’ Judge said, without being prompted.
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Asked if surgery was a possibility after the season, Judge said: “Yeah, but I’m not a doctor. I’ve got no idea.
“They throw around eight different things when you’re back there,’’ Judge added with a smile.
Aaron Judge starts swinging a bat
Judge said he is getting around better on his injured toe, having recently incorporated light hitting to his rehab activity.
A little more than four weeks since he slammed his foot into the concrete base of Dodger Stadium’s right field wall, while making a game-saving catch, Judge has recently increased his light baseball activity.
Judge has begun swinging off a tee and hitting baseballs in flip drills, in addition to playing catch.
"It’s feeling good walking. It’s not great. I don’t think it’ll ever be normal, but I’m moving around pretty well right now," said Judge.
Clarifying his "don’t think it’ll ever be normal" line, Judge referenced still occasionally feeling discomfort in the left pinkie he dislocated in 2021.
“I think any injury, it takes a year, two years, three years,’’ Judge said. “So, you never know what it’s going to feel like.
“I can’t see the future. I’m just telling you how it is right now and what we’ve got.’’
Judge was even reluctant to forecast into next week, and whether he’d participate in All-Star Game ceremonies at Seattle. He was elected to his fifth AL All-Star team by fan balloting. Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that the Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco will replace Judge on the All-Star roster.
“We’re at the rehab process. We’re close to coming back, and maybe it’s best not to go and maybe we’ll focus on doing some rehab stuff.
“If we’re not close, (it’s) probably best to stay back and get some work in,’’ said Judge, adding that more discussions with medical staff will determine that course.
Aaron Judge: Pain tolerance a factor
According to Judge, the ability to pivot and push off his back right foot in the batter’s box is “the biggest factor, besides running’’ in his return.
“It’s me being able to put 270 pounds (of weight) while I’m hitting, so once we build up that strength and get the pain and all that kind of out of there, we’re going to be in a good spot.’’
Pain tolerance is a factor, too, and Judge previously mentioned getting a cortisone shot when he’s close to returning.
“I kind of understand you’re going to deal with some pain coming back,’’ Judge said. “It’s about getting to a point where it’s tolerable and we’re not setting ourselves back here.’’
Judge also plans to be fitted for insoles that would limit “flexing the big toe at the end range.''
At this point, “I’m doing anything that can kind of help us out to speed this process up,’’ said Judge.