Aaron Judge stepped onto the field for batting practice Monday, marking his first such session since he sustained a right calf strain on Sept. 16, according to ESPN. The workout represents the latest step in the slugger's effort to convince the New York Yankees' decision-makers to place him on the club's wild-card series roster for its matchup with the Boston Red Sox.
The timing of Judge's return to on-field hitting carries significant weight for a Yankees club preparing for a short, high-stakes postseason series. Wild-card matchups leave little margin for error, and the presence of a middle-of-the-order bat of Judge's caliber could reshape how opposing pitchers approach the entire lineup.
Monday's session does not guarantee Judge will be cleared for game action. The organization's decision-makers must still weigh his readiness against the risk of aggravating the calf injury in a series where every at-bat matters. The Yankees have not announced a final determination on his roster status.
For local fans, the development offers the first tangible sign of progress since the Sept. 16 injury. Whether that progress translates into Judge appearing in the batter's box against the Red Sox remains an open question that the team is expected to resolve as the roster deadline approaches.
