NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge headed to the batter’s box for the first time in more than three months, sparking a standing ovation.
“It reminded me a little bit of in ‘22 going for 62. They’re all on their feet,” he said, remembering back to his pursuit of the American League home run record.
Recovered from a broken rib, Judge started in right field and went 0 for 3 over six innings Tuesday night as the No. 3 hitter in New York’s series-opening 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies that drew a Yankee Stadium sellout crowd of 46,211.
Judge struck out twice and flied out after a 99-day absence — a gap matching his uniform number.
“That’s crazy coincidence right there,” he said.
When he took the field for the top of the first, the three-time AL MVP smiled broadly and repeatedly tapped the interlocking “NY” on his jersey.
In the bottom half, Judge struck out when he swung under a four-seamer from rookie right-hander Gabriel Hughes.
“Crowd’s going crazy but I think just not making a big deal about it, knowing we had a plan before the game,” Hughes said.
Judge flied out to deep right-center in the fourth and took a called third strike on a full-count pitch from rookie left-hander Mark Manfredi in the sixth.
“It’s kind of like the start of the year,” Judge said. “I’ve got work to do. I’ve got to improve.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone planned to play Judge five-to-seven “ish” innings and replaced him at the start of the seventh with Heliot Ramos, who hit a three-run homer in the eighth.
“I respect Booney, so whatever he says I’m going to do, but not happy about it,” Judge explained.
Boone and Judge had a conversation by the dugout steps before the substitution. Boone plans to give Judge a day off Wednesday or Thursday, then might rest him for one game during the weekend Subway Series against the New York Mets.
“I know in his mind he feels he is very much ready to go the distance, but it’s my job to be smart here, especially these first several games,” Boone said.
Judge didn’t get any balls hit to him in the outfield. All three at-bats started with 2-0 counts and ended on fastballs.
“I thought he looked very like Judge-y,” Boone said. “Obviously, there’ll be some time getting the timing and rhythm and everything.”
Judge had missed 84 games since his last appearance on May 31. The 34-year-old captain tried to persuade Boone to activate him after center fielder Trent Grisham strained a hamstring on Friday night.
“He actually appeared in my door in San Diego after Grish got hurt: ‘Ready to go tomorrow,’” Boone recalled. “Didn’t want to do that because there were some final boxes we definitely wanted him to check.”
Judge took batting practice in the Bronx on Monday’s off day and was activated from the 60-day injured list that night. Boone had spoken separately with Judge, and strength and conditioning coach Brett McCabe, followed by the athletic training staff, general manager Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner.
“Hal just wanted to know where everyone was with it, where we stood,” Boone said.
Judge is hitting .244 with 17 homers, 38 RBIs and an .895 OPS. He initially was injured attempting to avoid second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. during an unsuccessful try for a diving catch at Houston on April 26.
New York was 36-23 after Judge last played on May 31 and went 45-39 in his absence. The Yankees hit .243 with 86 homers, a .770 OPS and an average of 5.17 runs in 59 games through May 31 but .227 with 107 homers, a .681 OPS and an average of 4.06 runs while the slugger was sidelined. Their batting average during that stretch ranked 29th among the 30 major league teams, ahead of Seattle at .225.
“We hung in there,” Boone said. “We’ve had stretches where it’s been a real struggle for us offensively.”
Opposing pitchers were a little more aggressive against other Yankees batters during Judge’s absence, according to MLB Statcast. Ben Rice received 48.3% strikes, up from 46.7%, and Cody Bellinger 49.7%, an increase from 47.3%.
“There is an effect around him netting better opportunities and better at-bats for everyone,” Boone said. “We’re very left-handed and have been much of the year. So how many days a week are we getting a lefty in the fifth inning, in the seventh inning and the ninth inning and they’re matching up against us and they don’t have to roll through Aaron Judge that’s surrounding those lefties?”
Cam Schlittler struck out 10 in seven innings as New York (82-62) clinched its 34th consecutive winning season, second-longest in the four major sports behind the Yankees’ 39 in a row from 1926-64. The Yankees are four games behind AL East-leading Tampa Bay and opened a three-game lead over Boston (80-65) for the top AL wild card.
“I told him it was going to be electric to have him back. Especially the day I’m pitching is a lot of fun,” Schlitter said. “I just expect him to kind of take off from here.”
Cruz hopes to return this year
Relief pitcher Fernando Cruz, sidelined since Aug. 25 by a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, decided against Tommy John surgery after being examined by Texas Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister and hopes to pitch again this season.
Cruz had a cortisone shot and plans to resume throwing this week.
“If it breaks, it breaks,” he said. “If you hear a pop or you hear something, it’s time to go to an operation.”
Weathers also plans to be back this season
Left-hander Ryan Weathers threw on flat ground up to 75 feet as he tries to return from a left forearm flexor strain that has kept him out of games since Aug. 22.
Weathers intends to throw again Wednesday and Thursday, take Friday off and perhaps pitch off a mound after that. He hopes to have a bullpen role in the postseason.
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