The comeback really is on! Aaron Judge starts hitting off a tee and his swing ‘looks great’, says coach Dillon Lawson – after the Yankees star hinted at return after July 11 All Star game
- Aaron Judge has been injured since June 3, spraining his toe against Dodgers
- But he has made an important step on the road to recovery for the Yankees
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Aaron Judge has handed the New York Yankees a massive boost by starting to hit off a tee in his return from a sprained right toe that has kept him out for over a month.
The Yankees star fell through an outfield fence playing against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on June 3 and at times, the team has looked seriously concerned about how long he is going to be out for.
The man himself, alongside coach Aaron Boone, has been coy over how badly he is hurt but after a month in the wilderness, it appears a return to the first team is finally in sight.
Dillon Lawson, the Yankees batting coach, certainly spoke as positively as Judge’s condition as anyone on the team has in a month on Monday night.
Aaron Judge has started hitting off a tee as he steps up his bid to return for the Yankees
Judge watches on during his team’s game at Yankee Stadium vs. Baltimore Orioles on Monday
Judge sprained his toe falling through an outfield fence against the Dodgers on June 3
‘His swing looks great,’ Lawson said, according to the New York Post. ‘It looks like he’s not missing anything.
‘He’s able to turn on his back [right] foot and it doesn’t look like it’s bothering him at all.
‘It’s definitely a positive sign. His swing has looked exactly like it’s looked like every time he swung last year and earlier this year.
‘I know there are progressions that have to be made, but this part of the progression looks as good as we could ever hope for.’
Judge has had a couple of injury issues this season but has still hit 19 home runs – seven more than the second highest from Gleyber Torres, on 12.
Judge signed a nine-year, $360million deal to stay at the Yankees earlier this year after hitting an American League record of 63 home runs last season.
The 30-year-old appeared on the TODAY show on Monday and did appear a little bit more optimistic about his injury, without offering any information that was too firm.
‘We got the All-Star Game coming up here (July 11), so hopefully that will buy me a couple days and we’ll be back there soon,’ Judge said.
The Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 at Yankee Stadium on Monday night.
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