Judge scratched from scrimmage with stiff neck

NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge was removed from the lineup of Saturday’s intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium due to a stiff neck, according to manager Aaron Boone, who said he is not concerned that it will present a long-term issue.

Judge had been scheduled to bat second and play right field in the lineup that would face right-hander Clarke Schmidt. Tyler Wade replaced Judge in right field.

“I don't think it's that big a deal. It just locked up on him,” Boone said. “When he woke up, he’d just slept on it a little weird, so he got worked on today. We obviously didn't want to force anything today, so hopefully he can be in there [Sunday], but we'll just see as long as that stiffness gets out of there.”

The Yankees have said that they expect Judge to be ready for Opening Day, July 23 against the Nationals. He progressed slowly after reporting an injury during Spring Training that was eventually diagnosed as a fractured first right rib and a punctured lung, stemming from an attempted diving catch last September.

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Following Thursday's intrasquad game, Judge remained on the field for about 20 extra minutes, taking batting practice against a pitching machine and practicing his baserunning reads on fly balls.

“I think [a stiff neck] can happen in the middle of the season, in the offseason, whenever,” Boone said. “The little things that can come up, that's why you’re kind of trying to strike that balance between understanding that we have a shorter amount of time and the urgency involved, but to also make sure we're, as best we can, building these guys up safely and putting them in situations that they're ready to handle.”

Aside from the positive coronavirus tests of left-hander Aroldis Chapman, infielder DJ LeMahieu and right-hander Luis Cessa, the Yankees have had few injury concerns through the first week of Summer Camp. Catcher Kyle Higashioka also missed an intrasquad game with a stiff neck, and outfielder Clint Frazier has been limited to designated hitter duties by a case of plantar fasciitis.

“By and large, I feel like our guys are in good shape,” Boone said. “Now it's just building innings and getting them in that game shape.”