Could Judge return next homestand? Boone says 'I think it's possible'

ANAHEIM -- As Aaron Judge packed his bags to accompany the Yankees on their six-game West Coast swing, a major milestone on his road back to lineup began to take shape.

Ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Angels, manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that the team captain could potentially be activated during New York’s upcoming homestand, which kicks off Sept. 8 against the Rockies.

"I think it's possible," Boone said pregame regarding Judge's potential return next homestand. "I'm not going to put a date on it, but I think those things are in play now. It's again about getting the durability and the workload built up on him, which is the biggest thing now."

Judge, who has been sidelined since June 5 with a right rib fracture, accompanied the team to Southern California specifically to ramp up his baseball activities. After progressing from pool work and tee-and-toss drills to indoor overhand batting practice, the slugger could begin facing higher velocity on the field during pregame workouts in Anaheim and San Diego.

While Judge has been vocal about his desire to bypass a Minor League rehab assignment -- noting that regaining his timing at the plate should feel "like riding a bike" -- Boone and the training staff remain focused on building back his physical volume.

If Judge’s workload progression goes smoothly over the next week out west, the 34-year-old slugger could make his long-awaited return to right field as early as next week in the Bronx.