The Yankees will activate star outfielder Aaron Judge for tonight’s game, skipper Aaron Boone told reporters including SNY.tv’s Andy Martino (Twitter links). Though he is not yet cleared to hit in game action, he’ll be able to play in the field and run the bases some while finishing his final preparations with the bat.
Though Judge isn’t quite fully back, it’s still a notable moment for an organization that hasn’t exactly been charging into the postseason. While the Yanks are all but assured of making it into the playoffs, they haven’t made a push for the AL East and are even in danger of losing the chance to host the Wild Card game.
When Judge hit the DL just before the trade deadline with a wrist fracture, the stated expectation of the club was that Judge would miss only about three weeks. That has proven optimistic, clearly, as Judge has been out for about seven weeks already. Now, he’ll try to help the organization win a few more games down the stretch and — more importantly — try to get up to full game speed before the start of the postseason.
It’s hard to overstate the importance of Judge to the Yanks’ hopes. He carried a .285/.398/.548 slash with 26 home runs in 447 plate appearances at the time of his injury, representing a worthy follow-up to his Rookie of the Year and MVP runner-up performance from 2017. While his overall production is down a smidge, Judge was pumping out even more hard contact (47.9%) than he did in the season prior.
The hope, it seems, is that Judge and the team will benefit from the activation even if he’s not yet a full go. A rehab stint would be preferable, of course, but that’s not an option right now. Instead, the expectation seems to be that Judge will participate in a sim game in the near future in hopes of being deemed ready to get back into the lineup.
One small step for Judge… One giant step for the Yankees.
It’s small step, giant leap.
You’re in danger of being absolutely spot-on, my friend.
He was hitting monstrous home runs in BP (post-injury) I don’t know how significant that makes their respective steps/leaps.
mlb.com/news/aaron-judge-homers-during-batting-pra…
Ok I admit I messed up the Neil Armstrong joke… Sorry.. I’ll stop commenting now
“I just wish the people who keep screaming needs “surgery!” Couple things…Who’s doing the screaming? Maybe they’re gonna end up being right, because really who knows.
You edited the post that I answered to. Why?
I’m not exactly eveyone’s biggest fan right now and I swear, cereal, not trying to start problms
I believe wrist surgery’s worst possible outcome, even worse than missing all of 2018 incl. post, if it means he gets back to 100%, non-surgical option. Maybe they’re negative, but all indications, no surgery. I’m not claiming to be a doctor, all I know is, I really hope Judge avoids wrist surgery at all costs… Sorry for edit, just trying to avoid problems, but I stand by my statement
Summary: I would be the happiest person in the world, if Judge takes the field 2019 no surgery, and believe many of those saying “surgery” are trolls… or overly-(but rightly) concerned Yankee fans. Sorry for the edit bud
Houston…..we (Yanks) have a problem.
Hopefully Xab. Just remember though Bogaerts last year wasn’t the same coming back. Perhaps his fracture was worse or he tried to come back too early. Love to have the Yankees healthy so when they still lose, there will be less excuses made…I want a five game series. Would be great for both fan bases.
Here’s an early excuse..Gary Sanchez has bunions…
Gary has menstrual cramps
Boston will just lose to Cleveland and Houston after. They’re Seattle from 2001. Not impressive but winning games.
Boston wouldn’t play Cleveland, they play the WC team. So that shoots down your scenario.
I can see the Indians beat the Sox. Indians fans waited long enough
This was a strange year with many teams tanking. Any of the AL playoff teams can win but the pressure is on the Sox and Yanks.
Boston vs A’s then?
Its Aaron Judge Bay Bay!
never thought I’d see the day when “Yankees activate Judge for defensive and base running ability” was a story..
People have underestimated his defensive ability, and given September roster expansion, no reason not to activate him when he could be useful in a 9th inning situation in the field.
Sounds like a panic move.
When exactly in a game will he be playing? Who does he run for & what outfielder does he replace?
And ps- what happened to Neil Walker, who was just starting to hit when he was last seen?
This is the first time in years I’ve seen the Yankees organization acting so confused.
Voit got hot, Didi and Torres returned from their respective DL stints, and the team added Mccutchen. Tell me where you’d play Walker?
How are they confused? They suffered thru a number of injuries to starters, acquired some help and are now moving towards having everyone healthy again, aside from Judge not quite being ready, and now you have to manage getting the right starters back in the lineup. No confusion. If Judge is healthy he starts over Cutch. Neil Walker doesn’t belong anywhere in the field other than 1B and 2B and right now those positions are being held down by Voit and Torres who deserve the at bats over Walker.
So he can’t even hit? I don’t get it
Hell still Manage to strikeout 200 times this year.
When you’re on base percentage is .400 and knocking 50 plus homers annually, it doesn’t matter how much you strike out…
Except for when you aren’t cleared to bat… LOL
Hits 50 homers once and is suddenly an annual 50 homerun hitter. Future Hall of Famer like you read about.
Hits 50 home runs and then 26 in the first half before an injury. Your point is not a bad one, but neither is the presumption that he’s an annual 50HR hitter.
Judge had 26 home runs at the end of July AFTER the all-star break. That means he would have needed to rapidly increase his home run rate to reach 50.
He wouldn’t have reached 50 this year even if he was healthy. So he’s not “an annual 50-HR hitter”
Nor did I say he was. Read my comment again, but this time brush up on your comprehension skills first.
I think it is. Who was the last non-steroidal ball player to have consecutive 50 HR seasons? Griffey, 20 years ago. It is a remarkable feat that is incredibly difficult to repeat. In fact, 29 players have done it once, only 8 did it more than once, and only four were consecutive (Ruth twice, Griffey, McGwire, Sosa.)
Is he going to just hope to be walked each PA? I don’t get it… they don’t get to have a designated fielder…… unless maybe he is going to PITCH?! This is ridiculous.
It is September. The roster can be as many as 40. Him being on the roster isn’t of much importance.
True point. I guess that’s probably the only part of it that makes any sense.
Where did you read that he was going to start immediately? He’s not keeping a roster spot for anyone else. He’s just traveling with the team.
And he could do that without being added to the roster, as you sure know.
So if you acknowledge his being on the roster or not doesn’t matter, why take umbrage with this?
Then why defend it? Is he that great of a pinch runner? Lol
If it helps you understand the Yankees’ plans at all, Judge was just inserted into the game as a RF defensive replacement for Cutch in top of the 8th, in a 9-0 game. (Cutch was 3-for-3 with a home run and two walks)
My bad, I made it seem like Cutch was removed from the game. Judge went in for Cutch in RF, Cutch moved to LF, Brett Gardner moved from LF to CF, taking Aaron Hicks out of CF and the game.
Why activate him?
Cheerleader.
Actually…. Is he allowed in the dugout if he isn’t on the active roster? Just curious… Cheerleader isn’t completely off the table.
I must be missing something here. judge has been in the dugout playing the part of cheerleader basically the whole time, just like Dustin Pedroia.
Well… at least he can pinch run, be a defensive replacement, and provide “moral support”. Now we can see if “leadership” can be quantified somehow.
Good to see Judge come back never want to see a team loose without there bullets. Hope he is Ok and waited long enough. Xander came back too soon last year and it killed his power. Judge has rested quite a bit longer so hopefully no ill effects.
Guy broke his wrist, tired of the media reporting on this story. Yankees were being very optimistic and when Judge was swinging by this date it was media freak out. THE GUY BROKE HIS WRIST, just settle!
A lot of that had to do with Judge and the Yankees saying “3 to 4 weeks”
I mean like you said…. HE BROKE HIS WRIST!!!!! That ain’t 3 to 4 weeks.
Media likes to jump on BS just like everyone else does.