Aaron Judge has been out for the New York Yankees since May 31 as he recovers from a rib fracture.
The postseason is getting closer, and if the Yankees want to make a World Series run, they need Judge back in the lineup. He has been playing catch and running as part of his buildup, but on Thursday, Aaron Boone revealed he has started hitting off a tee, per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.
“It seems to be going well," Boone said, per Hoch.
Judge has plenty more hurdles to clear before he is back in right field, but if he can start hitting, then the Yankees could at least get him in the lineup as a designated hitter. There is still no timeline for Giancarlo Stanton to return, so Judge serving as the designated hitter is not off the table.
The three-time MVP was hitting .248 with a .907 OPS before his injury. He had 17 home runs, but by his standards, he was having a down year. Still, it's clear what type of impact he can have on the Yankees lineup. Cody Bellinger is already on a rehab assignment as he finds his way back, so getting Judge as well could give the Yankees a huge boost.
Judge has expressed confidence that he will be back before the regular season ends, and the fact that he is already hitting off a tee supports that. Hitting against velocity will be the next big step for him.