Judge faces Loáisiga in live BP in latest step toward return

Reigning AL MVP sees 16 pitches, fouls off 5: 'It seemed like a good day all around'

July 23rd, 2023

NEW YORK -- The scouting report was crystal clear as Jonathan Loáisiga examined the 6-foot-7 frame of Aaron Judge on Sunday morning, digging in for his first at-bats against game-speed pitching since June 3. Absolutely, positively nothing inside.

Loáisiga and Judge earned positive reviews from their live batting practice session at Yankee Stadium. Judge saw 16 pitches, fouling off four and swinging and missing once; though he didn’t put a ball in play against the righty, he also did not appear to favor his injured right big toe.

“He’s healing and trying to get back as soon as possible, and I’m a sinker pitcher, so I don’t want to make a mistake. Everything away,” Loáisiga said through an interpreter. “When you take into consideration how long he hasn’t seen live pitching in an environment like that, I think he looked really good, honestly.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was among a larger-than-usual group on the field to witness the live BP, which took place in a mostly-empty Yankee Stadium. Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt were spotted in the home dugout, as was Royals pitcher Jose Cuas, who brought his young son, Jose III.

“It’s not going to get any harder than that, facing Jonny Lo as your first live session,” Boone said. “To have Aaron get in there and have to take pitches where your swing [decisions] are saying no, that’s a good test that he’s got to go through in working his way back. It seemed like a good day all around.”

Boone said that the next steps for Judge have not been determined, but they will likely include more hitting under simulated conditions, making any outside speculation about the upcoming Subway Series against the Mets overly optimistic.

“One of the biggest things is going to be building up that little bit of endurance, doing it for a couple of hours at a time,” Boone said. “That’s what we’ve got to get him to next.”

Earlier this week, Judge said that he expects lingering discomfort once he returns.  

“It’s not going to be pain-free, but we’ll just get as close to manageable as we can,” said Judge, who may need surgery to repair a torn ligament in the toe after the season.

No date for a potential Minor League rehab assignment has been set, Boone said. Judge has been running the bases, throwing and hitting in batting practice. He also tracked pitches against teammate Nestor Cortes on July 17 at Angel Stadium.

“I faced him in Spring Training and before the playoffs last year,” Loáisiga said. “It’s exciting to face him. He’s one of the best hitters in the world.”

Sunday’s session also represented progress for Loáisiga, who underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur and loose bodies from his pitching elbow on May 2. He mixed his slider, changeup, sinker and four-seamer to Judge.

 “That’s really encouraging to see, stuff and command-wise,” Boone said. “That looked like Lo in the playoffs.”

Loáisiga made three appearances in April, allowing a run and two hits in 3 1/3 innings (2.70 ERA). He expects to begin a Minor League rehab assignment on Saturday.

“I’m looking forward to getting back and helping the team,” Loáisiga said.