MINNESOTA \u2014 Despite some talk about a potential off day, Aaron Judge found himself back in the Yankees\u2019 lineup for Monday\u2019s series-opener against the Twins.<\/p>\n
The right fielder has only missed one game since returning from a fractured rib that sidelined him from May 31 to Sept. 8. With that in mind, Aaron Boone said that Judge could sit out Wednesday\u2019s series finale in Minnesota, which comes before an off day, but he \u201cpretty much\u201d sees the back-to-back MVP as full-go with as the Yankees trying to leapfrog the Rays for a division title with two weeks to go before the playoffs.<\/p>\n
While the Yankees are happy to have Judge back in their lineup<\/a>, he entered Monday\u2019s contest 3-for-17 (.176) with zero extra-base hits in five games since coming off the shelf. The back-to-back MVP, who did not go on a rehab assignment and only had one live batting practice session against minor leaguers before being activated, has also walked once and struck out nine times.<\/p>\n Judge\u2019s timing has clearly been a bit off, but Boone has liked the captain\u2019s approach and is confident the results will come soon.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve actually been pleased,\u201d Boone said Monday. \u201cEven right away, I felt like he\u2019s looked better than I anticipated with him having not played a lot. He\u2019s just missed a handful of pitches, but I feel like for the most part, he\u2019s swinging at the right pitches, taking pitches that he should, not chasing a lot. So I think it\u2019s just a matter of that last level of fine-tuning that we know he\u2019ll get to. But I feel like it\u2019s been valuable having him have the number of at-bats that he\u2019s had, seeing the number of pitches that he has, playing as regularly as he has. So [that\u2019s] all hopefully moving towards getting him really dialed in.\u201d<\/p>\n Boone has also said that he\u2019s been \u201cpleased\u201d with the way Judge has been responding physically since returning to game action. Judge, who has said he wants to be playing every day, said much of the same on Sunday after going 0-for-3 with three punchouts in a 2-0 win over the Mets.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m feeling great,\u201d Judge said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re back. I\u2019m feeling 100%, ready to go. I\u2019m feeling really good. We keep winning ballgames, which is the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n ROD\u00d3N GETS CLEMENTE NOD<\/p>\n For the second straight season, Carlos Rod\u00f3n was named the Yankees\u2019 nominee for MLB\u2019s Roberto Clemente Award<\/a>, which is given annually to the player who best represents the sport through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions.<\/p>\n Through their nonprofit, the Carlos Rod\u00f3n Foundation, Rod\u00f3n and his wife, Ashley, provide financial assistance and resources to couples facing infertility and pregnancy loss, just as they did earlier in their lives<\/a>. The foundation has awarded $715,000 in grants to 60 families across 17 states; 34 families are currently in treatment, 15 babies are on the way, and four have been born.<\/p>\n \u201cWe talk about using your platform for good, and they certainly have done that,\u201d Boone said. \u201cThey\u2019ve taken some of their personal experiences and hardships and turned them into positives.\u201d<\/p>\n PITCHING PLANS<\/p>\n