The Yankees activated the reigning AL MVP from the injured list ahead of Tuesday night’s game at Arlington, as expected, and made a handful of corresponding moves as well, placing new outfield acquisition Austin Slater (left hamstring strain) on the 10-day IL, activating reliever Mark Leiter Jr., recalling righty Yerry De Los Santos and designating righty JT Brubaker for assignment.
Judge landed on the injured list on July 27, five days after suffering a flexor strain in his right elbow on a throw to the plate. He was first eligible to return Tuesday, and after taking on-field batting practice in Tampa on Sunday and Monday, the slugger rejoined the Yankees in Arlington on Monday and spent much of New York’s 8-5 loss in the dugout.
Without Judge, the Yankees went 4-6, getting swept by the Marlins over the weekend and slashing just .231/.311/.399. Judge leads the Major Leagues in batting average (.342), on-base percentage (.449), slugging percentage (.711) and OPS (1.160). They enter Tuesday’s game on a four-game losing streak and tied with the Mariners for the final AL Wild Card spot, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Rangers.
“It’s Aaron Judge — we know what he means to our lineup, to the guys in the room,” manager Aaron Boone said. “So to get him back, we’re certainly excited about that. And then hopefully, shortly thereafter, he’s back out in the field, too.”
While they have Judge’s bat back, the Yankees aren’t expected to play Judge in right field right away.
“We’ll see when we get back home [on Friday against the Astros],” Boone said. “The process they’re going through — as far as treatments, I know he did plyos today, and then he’ll start introducing playing catch, and then his arm will tell him [when he’s ready].”
