Boone ‘optimistic’ Didi, Sanchez will return soon

BALTIMORE — Didi Gregorius swung a bat for the first time since going on the disabled list Sunday and Gary Sanchez will join Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on a minor league rehab assignment Monday.

“I am optimistic, but we still have to see,’’ Aaron Boone said when asked Sunday if the shortstop and catcher will come off the DL and be ready to play against the A’s in Oakland on Sept. 3, when the Yankees open a three-game series. “With Didi he is doing really well and it seems like he is on a good track.’’

Gregorius took a few swings in the indoor cage before the Yankees fin- ished a four-game sweep of the rancid Orioles at Camden Yards.

“It went good, wait and see what happens,’’ said Gregorius, who has been on the shelf since Monday after suffering a bruised left heel running the bases the day before. “Whatever they tell me to do, I do. It’s one step at a time.’’

Sanchez was shelved on July 24 with a strained right groin. Saturday he played for the Yankees East team in the GCL against the Phillies East squad in Clearwater, Fla., and went 0-for-3 with a walk and scored a run.

Though Austin Romine has more than held his own as the regular catcher and Sanchez went on the DL hitting .188 while still experiencing defensive problems, Boone said Sanchez will rejoin the lineup when healthy.

“He will go right into the lineup and he will play. He will be ready physically with all that we have put him through,’’ Boone explained. “We are giving him a good amount of rehab games so he hits the ground running. His conditioning right now is as good as it has been all year.’’ The days change but the message doesn’t when it comes to Aaron Judge’s fractured right wrist. “Same stuff, just waiting for the pain to get out,’’ Boone said. “Once that fractured is healed, we go.’’

Judge suffered the injury on July 26 and was placed on the DL the next day. This coming Thursday will be five weeks since the injury and as of Sunday, Judge hadn’t picked up a bat.

Since Judge went on the DL the Yankees are 19-11.

Miguel Andujar’s case to win the AL Rookie of the Year award improved as he went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs in Sunday night’s 5-3 win. Andujar is hitting .303 and has driven in 72 runs.

Gleyber Torres’ throwing error in the sixth inning was his teamleading 15th of the season.