Despite Didi Gregorius looking very healthy running the bases, aggressively fielding ground balls and taking batting practice, Aaron Boone said the shortstop won’t return from the DL for Wednesday night’s finale of a three-game series against the A’s.
“He had a good day today, if he can bounce back [Wednesday] and do more of the same then hopefully we are in a position to activate him on the weekend,’’ Boone said of Gregorius, who last played on Aug. 18 when he suffered a bruised left heel.
Asked if that mean Gregorius could be ready Friday, Boone said it was.
As for Aaron Judge, Boone said the right fielder felt no effects from hitting balls off a tee on Monday when he reported to work. Judge played catch from 120 feet and the velocity on the throws increased during the session. Judge ran the bases, took fly balls off a live fungo bat and stood in the batter’s box to track balls thrown by Masahiro Tanaka during the pitcher’s side session.
“He came in feeling good and was able to replicate what he did [Sunday],’’ Boone said before the Yankees’ 5-1 victory Tuesday night. “I didn’t see him off the tee, but I was told he was able to do what he did [Monday].’’
Gary Sanchez, Tyler Wade, Judge and Gregorius participated in running and agility drills.
According to Boone, Aroldis Chapman threw off flat ground and walked on a treadmill for the second straight day. After four days of throwing off flat ground, the All-Star closer will be evaluated and if there aren’t any setbacks, will progress in his rehab.
Chapman has been on the DL since Aug. 22 with tendinitis in his left knee.
Andrew McCutchen, who started a fourth straight game in right field Tuesday night, took fly balls in left field before the game. Boone said he hasn’t decided if he would use the right-handed hitting McCutchen in left but wanted him to familiarize him to the position if he needs him.
“It could be a possibility. For example we go to Seattle and we get James Paxton the first day. If I want to give [Brett Gardner] a day off against a lefty, [it would be good] to have that option,’’ Boone said. “Just trying to get him more comfortable with those angles over there. It’s at least an option.’’
Third baseman Miguel Andujar was named AL Rookie of the Month for August. He hit .320 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 30 games. He tied for the AL lead in homers with Oakland’s Khris Davis and the MLB lead in RBI with the Rangers’ Rougned Odor.
Andujar also won the award in June. Yankees rookies have won eight of the last 13 AL Rookie of the Month awards.
Gleyber Torres was named AL Player of the Week. He hit in all seven games and batted .478 (11-for-23) with three homers and 10 RBIs.
CC Sabathia was named the Yankees’ nominee for the 2018 Roberto Clemente Award. Through Sabathia’s PitCCh in Foundation, his family has made considerable donations in the community. The last Yankee to win the award was Derek Jeter in 2009.