ATLANTA — There is positive Yankees news.
Yes, really.
As this season teeters on the brink, the team flirting with its first losing season since 1992, Yankees fans can at least be encouraged by the direction the face of the franchise appears headed.
Aaron Judge is getting better, not worse. The torn ligament in his right big toe that cost him seven weeks hasn’t completely ruined his season.
He’s enjoyed a strong road trip and was in right field on Tuesday night, the latest sign he is making progress from a health standpoint.
“I think he’s done great. He’s not 100 percent, but I feel like he’s moving around, that’s gotten better since the first day, and that’s really improved,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Whether he gets all the way back to 100 percent this year or not, I’m not sure about that. I do feel like he’s able to move around there properly. He’s able to protect himself. I feel like he’s been having really consistent at-bats for us. He’s just probably not able to be at that peak physical level that you’re at when you’re at full bore.”
Since returning on July 28, the 31-year-old Judge entered play with a .260/.458/.488 slash line, with a .946 OPS and more walks (16) than strikeouts (13). He has played six games in right field, and more of late. Tuesday was his fourth start in the outfield in the last week. On this trip, he has found a rhythm, going 8-for-23 with one home run and five runs scored.
While nothing is certain at the moment, it appears that Judge will be able to avoid surgery on his troubled toe. Obviously, there are still six weeks to go in the season, and the plan for the outfielder will be determined later on, but right now Boone believes that going under the knife isn’t in the cards.
“I don’t think surgery is in the plans,” he said. “My understanding is no. … But then again, we’re not at the offseason yet. He’s doing pretty well. The fact he’s been able to play a good amount of games in the field, I think that’s a testament to that, and even seeing him move around the bases a little bit, I’ve noticed a fairly steady improvement in that area.”
There is the possibility that Judge doesn’t finish this season, though, if the Yankees really go into the tank and are playing meaningless games in September.
Starting the day 5 ¹/₂ games out of the last AL wild card and just one game over .500 at 60-59, that seems likely.
“We’re not there yet,” Boone said.