The New York Yankees finish their series with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night at Yankee Stadium.
NEW YORK — Yankees captain Aaron Judge took the next step in his throwing program on Sunday afternoon, making throws from right field to second base for the first time this month.
Judge had been building up to around 150 feet in his long-toss program as he continues to build back up from a right flexor strain.
Speaking to reporters at his locker a few hours later, Judge downplayed Sunday’s work in the outfield. He said that if he can throw to 150 playing catch, then it’s the same as throwing at that distance from the outfield to a base. But intensity in his throwing program is different than an in-game throw with a runner trying to score or take an extra base. That’s still a key to him getting back into the starting lineup in right field.
“I wouldn’t say I was at 100 percent, but it was higher intensity,” Judge said of Sunday’s throws. “I’m trying to get my work in and get my reps in, try to treat it like it’s a game because it’s the most important thing is if I get out there and treat it at game speed.”
Aaron Judge threw to the bases and the cutoff man a few minutes ago. @BryanHoch will have more later today. pic.twitter.com/49nApdF5mu
— William Ladson (@ladsonbill24) August 24, 2025
The next step would seemingly be for Judge to throw to third base and home plate, adding more zip on the ball each time. All the while, Judge and the Yankees are doing their best to monitor how the superstar slugger’s elbow responds. They need to weigh the slow ramp-up process after an injury like this against how badly the Yankees need him to be back in the outfield on defense.
“I think that’s the name of the game right now, making sure I can push the volume, push the level of it and also make sure that I’m recovered enough to go out there and keep pushing it the next day,” Judge said. “Our training staff does a great job at that. They’re helping me try to get out there as fast as I can. I think they all know I want to be back out there.”
With Judge in a designated hitter-only role over these last few weeks, Giancarlo Stanton has been playing in the outfield multiple times per week, his first in-game defensive reps in two years. The Yankees are playing a balancing game with Stanton as well, knowing about his history of lower-body and soft-tissue injuries. He’s not capable of playing every single game on defense, so he’s been forced to come off the bench as a pinch hitter over these last few weeks.
“Gotta be mindful of it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s too important to us moving forward. We’re not at that point of the season where today starts or ends our season. We are at the home stretch and the back half of the calendar with the playoffs on the line, but we still have to with him a little bit play the long game, especially considering obviously how important he is to the lineup.”
It’s worth noting, of course, that Stanton has been scorching hot at the plate for over a month. His bat needs to be in the lineup as much as possible and the only way for him and Judge to both play right now is for Stanton to be in the outfield.
The Yankees still don’t have an exact timeline for when Judge could be back in right field in a game. Judge, as he did on Saturday night, deferred to the Yankees’ training staff. He did admit that this whole process has been “brutal” and he’s itching to get back in the outfield.
“I’m a ballplayer,” Judge said. “I want to be out there making plays on defense, helping my team out. I know hitting is important and all that, but I feel like I can impact this team on both sides. So, can’t wait to get back out there.”
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Max Goodman may be reached at [email protected].
Category: General Sports
