The New York Yankees are currently playing their first subway series of the season with city rivals, New York Mets. The Bronx Bombers were able to clinch the first game with an offensive explosion. While starter Luis Severino struggled for most part of his outing, the in-form bullpen was able to take care of the rest.
The offense has finally gained some momentum for the first time in many days, especially since Aaron Judge’s injury. Since Judge landed on IL, the team’s average runs per game have dropped to as low as 3. Not only that, the Bombers are also missing the services of its star center fielder, Harrison Bader, who is reeling under a hamstring injury. Here’s a recent update on the outfielder duo’s latest injury status.
Yankees Harrison Bader Aiming To Return This Week Against Red Sox
The New York Yankees’ star center fielder, Harrison Bader, has had a troubling relationship with injuries this season. He missed a major chunk of the first half of the season with an oblique injury. However, as soon as he returned, Bader wreaked havoc offensively. He hit .267 with six home runs and 19 RBIs in just a few weeks. Just when he was transforming into a proper beast, injury struck again. While running on base paths, the outfielder strained his hamstring and entered IL accordingly.
On top of that, Harrison Bader skipped his initial timeline despite feeling better. While his injury had healed, Bader needed additional time to find his rhythm back. Now, as per the latest updates from manager Aaron Boone, the outfielder will hit a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Wednesday. If he manages to clear it, Harrison Bader could be reinstated on Friday ahead of the series against the Boston Red Sox. For what it’s worth, Bader’s return could prove to be a huge boost for the Yankees, who are struggling offensively under the absence of its captain, Aaron Judge.
Suspense Over Aaron Judge’s Return Timeline Still Looms
While Harrison Bader is gearing up for a return, suspense over the captain’s comeback is still looming over. Aaron Judge injured his toe while crashing into a fence and has been on IL ever since. The most concerning factor is the absence of a return timeline. Most recently, the manager, Aaron Boone, shared that Judge is feeling a lot better and is in a much better place than he was a few days ago. However, he is yet to receive word from the trainer’s office about the batter’s health status.
On the other hand, Aaron Judge himself avoided questions related to his return timeline. He said there is no urgent need for a timeline. Moreover, the captain does not want to give a random date because if he fails to return on that date, he will be bombarded with a lot more questions. Hence, Judge feels it’s best for him not to aim for a return window for now and just treat it on a day-to-day basis. Overall, it seems like Aaron Judge is set to miss the rest of the month at the very least.