SAN DIEGO — The endgame is near for Aaron Judge.
The Yankees captain took on-field batting practice for the second straight day Saturday at Petco Park, part of another busy day of full baseball activities as he tries to build up his endurance with just about all of the physical boxes checked off ahead of his potential return next week.
“He’s physically to the finish line, where he needs to be, but it’s about just doing it a lot, because that’s ultimately what you’re trying to replicate is being out there for nine innings where you’re playing for three hours and sit down, get up, those kind of things,” manager Aaron Boone said Saturday. “Just replicating that. So we’re getting to that point with the volume. He ran bases again today. He’s in a good spot.”
The only thing Judge has not done yet is face live pitching, which the Yankees are trying to make happen Monday when they get back home for an off-day.
One potential option could be having Clarke Schmidt (currently on a rehab assignment) throw to him, though Boone would only say, “We’re working on it.”
Judge, who has been out since the beginning of June with a right rib stress fracture, indicated Friday that he would likely need to face live pitching “a couple” times before he is activated, though he does not want that to be on a rehab assignment.
Instead, the Yankees could finish off his buildup in the big leagues during the homestand against the Rockies and Mets, like having him play a game and then take a day off, or playing five to seven innings in the field his first few games back.
“I would consider that kind of buildup,” Boone said. “Those things are on the table.
“He’s done everything he needs to do to be at the finish line to be ready to play.”
After throwing 2 ¹/₃ scoreless innings Friday night while piggybacking Max Fried, Will Warren will slot back into the rotation for his next turn on the homestand.
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There was some question as to why the Yankees did not challenge Spencer Jones being thrown out at third base on a steal attempt in the 10th inning Friday night, but Boone said replay coordinator Brett Weber had Jones clearly out.
Austin Wells was back in the lineup Saturday against lefty Robbie Ray and will likely catch Gerrit Cole in Sunday’s series finale as well, meaning he will have started all three games of the series.
