Yankees sense 'breakthrough' with Judge's injury

NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge feels like there has been “a little bit of a breakthrough” following the most recent platelet-rich plasma injection on his right big toe, according to manager Aaron Boone, who said that he is hopeful the injured slugger will soon begin to make real progress.

There is still no timetable for Judge’s return to the lineup. Judge injured his toe making a terrific catch on June 3 at Los Angeles, sustaining what was announced to be a contusion and sprain. He received a PRP injection on June 6, then had another PRP injection to address a second ligament on June 15.

“I’m encouraged by what we’re seeing, and just by my conversations with him,” Boone said on Tuesday. “He’s been slowly doing better and able to do more things. I do feel like hopefully that was the start of him making some real progress.”

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that Judge is dealing with a “unique injury.” Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner recently likened it to turf toe, which is generally more common in football than baseball.

“Ultimately, the most important thing we need to do is make sure that he’s healed when we start to deploy him,” Cashman said. “We don’t want this thing coming back on us at any point because it wasn’t 100 percent ready to go.”

The Yanks have lost eight of 12 games since Judge crashed into the bullpen fence at Dodger Stadium.

Cashman said that during the period when the Yankees were collecting information from doctors and specialists, then relaying it to Judge, the GM felt that he needed to warn against an optimistic timetable by saying: “This could be longer.”

“We need to be really careful with this, because he’s a real devoted athlete,” Cashman said. “He wants to be out there fighting for his team, fighting for our fans. That’s where missteps can take place. You’ve got to protect the player from themselves. He wants to get out there as soon as he practically can, but he’s got to be smart and we have to be smart.

“So, timeframe, I have no clue yet. I do know he’s getting better and he’s improving, thus the second PRP injection. Those are all encouraging signs, but we’re not in a position to speculate on a timeframe yet.”

Judge has accompanied the Yankees on their recent road trips, during which he is receiving treatment but not participating in baseball activities.

“He’s able to do more things on the toe from a balance standpoint, from starting to get up on it,” Boone said. “A lot of the swelling and stuff is now out of there, so I feel like he’s starting to turn the corner there.”