Aaron Judge is finally about to face live pitching again.
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And if everything goes according to plan, the New York Yankees could have their captain back in the lineup within days.
Judge is scheduled to face live pitching Monday at Yankee Stadium for the first time since fracturing a rib in late May. The workout represents perhaps the biggest step yet in a recovery that has kept the two-time American League MVP out for more than three months.
According to MLB.com, Judge could potentially return Tuesday or Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Judge has essentially cleared the physical portion of his recovery. The remaining challenge is preparing his body for the demands of playing an entire game.
"He's physically to the finish line, where he needs to be," Boone said. "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."
Judge has recently taken batting practice on consecutive days and resumed running the bases.
A minor-league rehab assignment remains possible, although Judge has questioned whether one is necessary.
Another option would be for the Yankees to activate Judge and initially limit him to five or six innings while he continues building endurance.
Whenever Judge returns, it'll be too late to salvage some of his usual eye-popping season totals. He played only 59 games before the injury, hitting 17 home runs.
The Yankees aren't particularly concerned about individual milestones right now. Getting Aaron Judge back for the stretch run will do just fine.
