Bronx, NY— The New York Yankees returned to the Bronx after a road trip on the West Coast in which they were swept by the Angels in a three-game series. The Yankees are in need of reinforcements and it seems like they may be in luck for once.
Aaron Judge took live batting practice against reliever Jonathan Loaisiga before Sunday's game. This was Judge's first time facing "game-speed" pitching since the injury he sustained to his toe on June 3 at Dodger Stadium. He was diagnosed with a torn ligament on his right toe that could require surgery after the season. The larger than life star received two PRP injections on his toe and has been taking on-field BP. Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, said he believes Judge is "close" to returning.
Shortly after losing Judge, the Yankees reached rock bottom and were in last place until the win against Kansas City on Friday. The Yankees cannot wait for his return, as the team has been awful without Judge's production. The team had the lowest batting average, on-base percentage since he has been out of the lineup.
Next steps for Judge will likely include more hitting under simulated conditions. No set date to play in games yet, as reported by Bryan Hoch.
“One of the biggest things is going to be building up that little bit of endurance, doing it for a couple of hours at a time,” Aaron Boone said.
Jonathan Loáisiga who pitched to Judge on Sunday in simulated game, could begin a rehab assignment this weekend. This is great news for the Yankees as the bullpen has been getting hammered. In May, Lo was having surgery to remove bone spurs and could not throw for about 3-6 weeks per Justin Shackil.
Judge Loáisiga sim game at Yankee Stadium! 🎥@RealMichaelKay
pic.twitter.com/M102QIbQMP— Dugout Station (@DugoutStation) July 23, 2023
Josh Donaldson - Yankees transferred Donaldson to 60-day IL on Thursday. He was diagnosed with a grade 2 calf strain, according to reports from Gary Phillips. He was hurt on the road when the Yankees were in the west-coast trip in Colorado. There is no time table for return. He told the reporters in LA earlier in the week that he may have suffered a season-ending injury. This move would make him eligible to come off the IL in September. With this move Oswald Peraza was called up to the big leagues from Triple-A and has made spectacular defensive plays.
Nice play by Peraza! pic.twitter.com/8j9NkZIcXu
— Dugout Station (@DugoutStation) July 21, 2023
Jose Trevino was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to 7/18) with a right wrist tear. With that move, the Yankees also recalled catcher, Ben Rortvedt from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, who was immediately in the lineup on Saturday. Trevino needs season-ending wrist surgery and said that his wrist has been an issue dating back to spring training. He thought he could play through the pain, but it has reached a point where he needs to get it fixed. Trevino expects to be ready for spring training 2024, as reported by Bryan Hoch.
Nestor Cortes made his first rehab start with Somerset Patriots on Sunday. He was set to throw around 45 pitches per @M_Marakovits. Nestor suffered a shoulder injury on June 4 and was placed on a 60-day IL on July 7, he is on board to return soon.
His first rehab start Line: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR, 42 Pitches (31 Strikes)
Cortes 4th strikeout and he’s thru 19 pitches here in the second. pic.twitter.com/lQYnwOBA2W
— Dugout Station (@DugoutStation) July 23, 2023
Prior to Sunday's game, The Yankees also announced that both Greg Allen and Jake Bauers were reinstated from the injured list and Franchy Cordero was optioned to Triple-A Scranton.
Jake Bauers had a bruised rotator cuff and was placed on the IL on July 6. Bauers completed a rehab assignment with the RailRiders. He went deep on Friday with a 417-f00t, two-run bomb to tie the game in the fifth. That is his 10th home run in Triple-A this year and his second home run while rehabbing. Bauers was on the Yankees line-up on Sunday, leading-off and playing right field. He went 1 for 3 with a walk and a single.
Bauers second rehab HR with Scranton! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ci6iKd8yib
— Dugout Station (@DugoutStation) July 23, 2023
Greg Allen started his rehab with Tampa Tarpons then went to Scranton. Allen had a hip flexor injury on June 9 and placed on the IL. He began his rehab assignment after the All-Star break. Allen made a great sliding catch in his rehab assignment with Scranton, batting .315, 6 H, 3 RBI, 2 SB, and one home run. He was activated and pinch ran for Bauers on Sunday's game.
Great catch by Greg Allen in his rehab with Scranton! 🎥@swbrailriders
pic.twitter.com/UKLfbVawp4— Dugout Station (@DugoutStation) July 22, 2023
Greg Allen HR🔥🎥@swbrailriders
pic.twitter.com/ppeDDmsQdb— Dugout Station (@DugoutStation) July 20, 2023
Gleyber Torres was pulled from Sunday's game with left-hip tightness. There are "no tests scheduled for Gleyber Torres at the moment," as per Bryan Hoch.
On Sunday, the organization also added beloved Yankee Andrew Pettitte as an advisor. Pettitte, who pitched for the Yankees from 1995-2003 and 2007-2013, is coming aboard and serve as the advisor to Aaron Boone. The move is a step in the right direction as Yankees make a push for the third wild card spot in the second half. He was spotted with Loaisiga prior to Sunday's game.
Andy Pettitte spotted with Jonathan Loaisiga 👀#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/eiiQ5owBqO
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 23, 2023
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