SWEEPLESS IN SEATTLE

YANKS CAN’T BREAK OUT BROOMS VS. MARINERS

SEATTLE — His fractured right wrist isn’t without pain, but that hasn’t stopped Aaron Judge from being excited about the progress he has made and or the fact that he will take batting practice on the field for the first time this week.

“It feels good and getting closer every day, making progress,’’ Judge said following the Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the Mariners on Sunday at Safeco Field. “Making progress, hit on the field in Minnesota and keep it rolling.’’

Asked if the pain had left the wrist, Judge said it hadn’t.

“The pain is not gone,’’ said Judge, who started swinging off a tee and at tosses in Oakland last week but has yet to take BP outdoors.

Judge put the pain level between four and five recently and said that “it’s around there but I can’t give you a number. It’s feeling better.’’

So what is the next step if outdoor BP doesn’t present a setback?

“They haven’t told me much. They break it down for me that day,’’ Judge said. “They tell me if I have BP on the field or BP in the cage and go from there.’’

Judge said he believes he will return but that is nothing new because he felt that way when he was hit by Royals pitcher Jakob Junis on July 26.

“I am confident the way I am feeling right now and I was confident when it first happened,’’ Judge said. “I knew I would be back for meaningful games down the stretch.’’

Aaron Boone said he was happy with the way Judge emerged from Saturday’s workout.

“He came out of [Saturday] really strong. The fact that he continues to bounce back as we upped the work- load is really encouraging,’’ Boone said. “I think he has a little extra pep in his step and I think he is excited about how he feels.’’

As for hitting on the field this week, a step that would precede possibly playing in simulated games, Boone said it could happen.

“I think that is possible that he will get out on the field one of those days,’’ Boone said of Judge. “There is a chance he might get to the field in Minnesota.’’