Aaron Judge moving closer to return, but Yankees star's injured toe still 'not healed'
DENVER – That was none other than Aaron Judge on Friday afternoon, taking a few on-field batting practice rounds and doing some running at Coors Field.
“Kind of wanted to test it in the Mile High City a little bit,’’ said the Yankees’ captain.
It’s the first time Judge has run or hit on a field since suffering a torn ligament in his right big toe, an injury that occurred June 3 in the outfield at Dodger Stadium.
Six weeks later, Judge still isn’t offering any target dates for a return to the Yankees’ lacking lineup – a circumstance that led to last Sunday’s firing of hitting coach Dillon Lawson.
New batting coach Sean Casey ran his first hitters meeting Friday, prior to the opener of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies, residing in the NL West basement.
“It came as a surprise,’’ Judge said of Lawson’s dismissal. “Dillon did a lot of great things here, especially coming from the minor league system all the way up, helping a lot of guys.
“He gave me some good nuggets (of hitting advice) I’ll still use today,’’ Judge added, though he said he's “looking forward’’ to working with Casey, owner of a .302 lifetime MLB batting average.
“He brings the energy,’’ Judge said. Casey has “a great personality. He’s a guy who’s going to motivate you, push you.’’
But it’s still a guess as to when Judge will be anchoring the Yankees’ lineup again.
Taking swings Friday, “I didn’t feel like I was limited at all,’’ said Judge, adding that he wanted “to be with the team, get some work in’’ following an All-Star break spent rehabbing in New York.
As for his first on-field running steps Friday, “hopefully I didn’t look too slow out there,’’ Judge said of testing the toe – as well as some new orthotics – at something less than 100% speed.
“Just another step, just like playing catch,’’ said Judge, reminding inquirers that his toe is “not healed,’’ but “we’re on the right track’’ toward a return.
“I think the biggest step will be when I get a chance to be on the field and I’m in games,’’ said Judge. “That’ll be the real test for me.’’