TORONTO -- With the Yankees in need of an offensive boost, Aaron Judge took a step forward in his path back to the Bronx Bombers’ lineup on Friday.
Judge played catch in New York for the first time in his rehab from a fractured right rib, which the three-time American League MVP traces back to an attempt at a diving catch in Houston on April 26.
“I know he threw and ran yesterday,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday from the visitors’ dugout at Rogers Centre. “Hopefully, [he’ll] continue to progress through this week and we’ll see what else gets introduced.”
Judge was cleared to participate in light baseball activities earlier this month, which included outdoor running and upper-body resistance training. His scans at the time showed enough healing to begin the slow ramp-up.
The 34-year-old last played with the Yankees on May 31 before being placed on the 10-day injured list on June 5 (retroactive to June 2). He was moved to the 60-day injured list on July 18.
“We expect him back, but we’re in the early stages of baseball activities, so hopefully things continue to go well,” Boone said when asked about a potential timeline for Judge’s return.
Boone added that Judge might “not necessarily” need to be re-imaged as he progresses further throughout his rehab until “maybe the very end.”
Although Friday’s catch play did advance Judge’s rehab process, the Yankees know there are many boxes still to be checked.
“He hasn’t done any baseball things in a while, so there’s a lot more to do,” Boone said.
Before going on the IL, Judge had a .908 OPS with 17 home runs in 34 games.
In his absence, the Yankees have gone 32-31 and seen All-Star outfielder Cody Bellinger (left hamstring strain) join Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the list of shelved impact bats.
Stanton, who is working back from a right calf strain suffered in late April, was also back on the field Friday, running the bases and hitting on the field. However, Boone didn’t share any plans for the designated hitter to advance to something new.
Bellinger, meanwhile, is increasing his baseball routines in hopes of beginning a rehab assignment next week.
New York has clearly felt the trio’s absence, especially since the All-Star break. The Yankees’ lineup has carried a .636 OPS -- the second-worst mark in MLB -- since returning to action on July 17.
“I remain very optimistic, especially with this group, because I do feel like even though we’re going to get reinforcements, this group is capable of good offense,” Boone said of the prolonged second-half slump. “But we obviously got to do a better job of bringing runs in.”