New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is optimistic that Aaron Judge could be returning soon.
"I think it's possible," Boone told MLB.com's Courtney Hollmon Monday when asked if Judge could be back in the lineup when New York returns home next week. "I'm not going to put a date on it, but I think those things are in play now. It's again about getting the durability and the workload built up on him, which is the biggest thing now."
The Yankees are set to return to the Bronx on Sept. 8 against the Colorado Rockies. They play the second game of a three-game set against the Anaheim Angels on Tuesday, before staying out west for a three-game series with the San Diego Padres over the weekend.
Judge has been out since June 5 with a stress fracture in his right rib. The back-to-back defending American League MVP has appeared in just 59 games this season, hitting .248/.375/.533 with 17 home runs and 38 RBI.
New York holds a three-game lead over the Boston Red Sox for the top AL wild-card spot. It trails the Tampa Bay Rays by 4.5 games for the AL East division lead.
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