NEW YORK – At this point, the Yankees miss Aaron Judge so much they’ll take any news as good news. You can’t blame them, playing under .500 since the slugger was injured on June 3.
But there was a sliver of good news at the Stadium on Monday, where prior to the Bombers’ 6-3 victory over the Orioles, Judge graduated from playing catch to hitting off a tee.
For someone who’s waiting for a torn ligament in his big right toe to heal, that’s enough to raise an eyebrow, not to mention the team’s hopes for No. 99′s return sometime this month.
“(Judge’s) swing looks great,’’ hitting coach Dillon Lawson told the New York Post. “It looks like he’s not missing anything. He’s able to turn on his back [right] foot and it doesn’t look like it’s bothering him at all.”
Judge had previously said he was in near-constant pain. Even walking bothered him. But that was a week ago, which means the torn ligament has improved since then. While it’s not a complete breakthrough, the trend line is encouraging to say the least.
Still, there are several more steps up the ladder, including light jogging, then moderate running and finally, full push-off sprinting. That would be the most accurate measure of the toe’s ability to withstand pressure.
Judge has said mobility will be the true litmus test for his return. Once he’s pain-free while busting it from Point A to Point B, hitting will take care of itself.
The most positive development, according to Lawson, is “(Judge’s) swing has looked exactly like it’s looked like every time he swung last year and earlier this year.
“I know there are progressions that have to be made, but this part of the progression looks as good as we could ever hope for.”
Bob Klapisch may be reached at [email protected].
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