The New York Yankees reinstated slugger Aaron Judge from the disabled list Friday before they open a weekend road series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Judge has been out since tearing a ligament in his right toe on June 3 in a collision with a fence in right field at Dodger Stadium.
Boone played a simulated game Wednesday at the team’s facility in Tampa, Florida, and returned to New York later, manager Aaron Boone said.
The 2022 American League MVP faced live pitches Sunday at Yankee Stadium for the first time since he was injured. Boone added that Judge homered in a simulated game Tuesday, also played field and ran the bases.
New York is 19-23 since Judge was injured. The Yankees are 30-19 under the slugger, who missed 10 other games this season with a strained right hip.
Judge set an AL record of 62 home runs last year. His batting average is .291 with 19 home runs and 40 RBIs in the first year of a $390 million, nine-year deal.
To open up a spot for Judge, the Yankees sent Venezuelan infielder Oswald Peraza to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.