YOU BAT-CHA!
Judge takes part in hitting drills
SEATTLE — Aaron Judge took a big step toward returning from the disabled list Friday afternoon when he participated in hitting drills outdoors at Safeco Field.
Working outside for the first time since going on the DL in late July with a fractured right wrist, Judge graduated from hitting off a tee and tosses indoors to the field, where he took hacks at balls off a tee and participated in a toss session that consisted of three rounds with hitting coach Marcus Thames flipping balls from behind a net about 25 feet away.
Judge drove balls with authority to all fields and reached the seats in center field. It didn’t appear swinging bothered his right wrist in either activity, which were watched by trainer Steve Donohue.
“Pretty much,’’ Aaron Boone said of the pain not being an issue for Judge. “He wouldn’t be doing this and bouncing back the way he has.’’
After three rounds of flips, a group of Yankees consisting of Didi Gregorius, Aaron Hicks, Austin Romine and Gary Sanchez took early batting practice, but Judge moved to the outfield and didn’t participate in the BP session.
“Another good day for him, a good step forward,’’ Boone said before the Yankees’ 4-0 win over the Mariners. “He continues to build momentum. We will continue to see [Saturday], but [he] has bounced back pretty well.’’
Watching Judge drive balls was considered significant progress to Boone, who said the next step is taking batting practice indoors and then outside.
“This is kind of what we have been waiting for — for the pain to get out of there, for him to be able to really swing,’’ Boone said. “I think he is starting to get a little bit of excitement about how he is feeling when he is swinging the bat. Again, positive steps for Aaron.’’
➤ Gleyber Torres’ second-inning homer was his 100th career hit. At 21 years and 268 days, he is the fourth-youngest Yankee to reach 100 hits. The only Yankees to reach the century mark at a younger age are Mickey Mantle, Ben Chapman, and Joe DiMaggio.