Aaron Judge late scratch from starting lineup singles in go-ahead run: ‘Better late than never’

St. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After just one game back after missing nine, Aaron Judge was a last-minute scratch from the Yankees lineup for Wednesday night’s game The team offered no explanation at the time they announced the lineup change and in the fifth inning he was inserted in as a replacement for Estevan Florial.

Judge singled in the go-ahead run in the Yankees 2-1, 10-inning win over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

On the YES broadcast, Judge told Meredith Marakovitz that he was scratched from some “medical testing,” that he would not elaborate on. Aaron Boone said that Judge had some “doctor stuff,” to complete in his return from the COVID-19 list and it ran late Wednesday. He did not arrive at Tropicana Field until after 6 p.m., so they scratched him.

“Better late than never,” Judge said when asked about being late to the field.

Judge, who said the only symptoms he had was a headache and sniffles, declined to say if he was vaccinated.

“I’ll keep that between me and my doctor,” Judge said.

He also said he does not know how he picked it up.

The slugger had come off the COVID-19 list on Tuesday night and had a single. He was also hit by a pitch. A team official told reporters before the game Judge was not expected to take batting practice before the game. He was not seen on the field before the game.

Judge, who had an All-Star worthy first half, was hitting .282/.375./.522 with 21 homers in 85 games this season After three years of having his seasons derailed by injuries, Judge had been relatively healthy to start this season; missing just five games through the first 84 for the normal off days and nicks and bruises.

But then the slugger tested positive for the coronavirus coming back from the All-Star Game. He was one of six Yankees players on the COVID-19 list the week after the All-Star Game. The Yankees first game back after the break, against the Red Sox, was postponed because of potential exposure to both clubs through the All Star festivities.

Monday, Judge hit at the Yankees spring training complex trying to prove he was ready after having had to quarantine.

SEVERINO SIM GAME

Luis Severino will throw a simulated game on Thursday before heading back out on a rehab assignment. The right-hander injured his right groin as he was rehabbing from March 2020 Tommy John surgery. The Yankees hoped to have him back in their rotation by Friday’s MLB trade deadline, but he will more likely be an August return.

VOIT VERY SOON

Yankees manager Aaron Boone would not rule out slugger Luke Voit being back in his lineup on Thursday, but he is confident the 2020 home run king will be back by his weekend.

“I know he’s getting close. It depends if he’s part of some live at-bats tomorrow, so possibly,” Boone said. “I do expect him on this trip at some point. But we’ll just have to see where we’re at going into tomorrow and the next day.”

ANDUJAR STILL HURTING

Converted outfielder Miguel Andujar is still not close to returning after having two shots to manage the pain in his strained left wrist.

“He’s doing a little bit better, but not totally pain free. But doing a little bit better. But nothing imminent as far as a rehab or anything like that,” Boone said. “I haven’t talked to Miggy this week, but I I know he’s doing pretty well and getting better, but not totally out of the woods yet.”

FRAZIER UPDATE

Clint Frazier continues to work with sports neurologists in Michigan to try to rule out issues that could be causing his dizziness and vision problems. The outfielder, who has been out since leaving a June 30th game with dizziness, is expected back in New York this weekend, when the team will assess his next steps.

“I think he is expected to be back in New York this weekend, perhaps Friday, and then, along with our doctors decide at that point whether he starting a rehab assignment right then, because he’s doing baseball activities and things like that, or whether he needs more work leading into a rehab assignment,” Boone said. “But he is getting close and I can report doing well.”

The team does not believe the issues are related to the 2018 spring training concussion that bothered him for nearly two years.

KLUBER BACK ON THE MOUND

Right-hander Corey Kluber threw his second bullpen session since straining his right shoulder on Wednesday afternoon. The two-time Cy Young winner threw seven warm-up pitches and 15 pitches off the mount. Kluber strained a muscle in his rotator cuff in May, one start after throwing his first career no-hitter. The Yankees do not expect him back pitching for them until September.