Judge gets go-ahead to begin hitting again

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge took his first swings off a tee since breaking his right wrist July 26, a significant early step in what he hopes is a return to the field for New York in a couple of weeks. Judge, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, took 25 dry swings on Monday in Oakland’s centre-field cage before taking another 25 off the tee at what he called 100 per cent effort. He said he felt good enough in recent days that the decision was made he would begin hitting again. “Definitely a big step,” said Judge, who was batting .285 with 26 homers, 20 doubles and 61 RBIs in 99 games before the injury.