Yanks’ Judge held out for 2nd day
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was held out of action for a second straight day Sunday due to a stiff neck.
The 2017 AL Rookie of the Year was scratched from a simulated game Saturday after waking up with a sore neck, and the right fielder was not included in either lineup for an intrasquad scrimmage Sunday.
New York manager Aaron Boone said Judge got treatment at Yankee Stadium on Sunday and was improving.
“Just thought it was better not to push through it today,” Boone said.
The Yankees are set to open a pandemic-shortened season July 23 at Washington.
New York is planning just a light workout Monday, and Judge will get more treatment with hopes of returning to intrasquad action Tuesday.
“I don’t think it’s something that’s going to keep him down too long,” Boone said.
The club is scheduled to play its first exhibition game against the New York Mets on Saturday.
Judge was diagnosed with a broken rib in March and used the coronavirus hiatus to recover. He had been swinging at full strength for at least a couple of weeks before camp opened and had been a full-go in intrasquad action over the past week.
The 6-7 star has missed time each of the past two seasons. He broke his right wrist on a hit-by-pitch in 2018 and went on the injured list for two months last year with a left oblique strain.
Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka played catch Sunday to 100 feet and is ramping up his cardio but remains in concussion protocol. The Japanese starter was hit in the head by Giancarlo Stanton’s 112 mph line drive eight days ago. Boone is still uncertain when Tanaka will return to the mound.
ELSEWHERE
Dodgers: Closer Kenley Jansen was late arriving to summer camp after he tested positive for COVID-19. The three-time All-Star closer said Sunday on a video conference call that he believes he contracted the virus from his 4-yearold son Kaden. He said the child had a fever, among other symptoms, which led his wife to suggest everyone in the family get tested. Jansen said he’s “doing great and better now.”
Obituary: Frank Bolling, a two-time All-Star second baseman and the last player to hit a grand slam off Sandy Koufax,
has died. He was 88. Bolling died Saturday. He was diagnosed with cancer about five years ago, his family said. Bolling played 12 seasons in the majors, six with Detroit and six with the Braves, and hit .254 with 106 home runs. He won a Gold Glove in 1958 with the Tigers and for part of that season, his double-play partner was his older brother, shortstop Milt Bolling.
The road leading to Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile is Bolling Brothers Blvd. Aaron is from the city and was Bolling’s longtime teammate, and they occasionally would visit over the years when the Hall of Famer returned to his hometown.