NEW YORK – The Yankees welcomed Edwin Encarnacion back from his month-long absence on Tuesday, and the slugger wasted no time taking his imaginary parrot on a jog around the basepaths.

Playing in a big league game for the first time since Aug. 3, when he was hit by a pitch and suffered a fractured right wrist, Encarnacion slugged a 386-foot two-run homer in the seventh inning to complete the Bombers’ scoring in their 10-1 drubbing of the Rangers.

“I wasn’t worried about it,” Encarnacion said. “I just wanted to make sure that I would get to 100 percent healthy so I could get back.”

As is his custom, the 36-year-old rounded the bases with his right arm extended, as though an avian friend were perched upon it. That delighted the Yanks’ bench, providing infielder Gio Urshela with an opportunity to break out the stuffed parrot that -- until recently -- had been sporting a cast on its right wing.

“It's that at-bat quality that we love,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It's good to get him back in the mix.”

Encarnacion’s return promises to add increased thunder to an already-powerful Yankees lineup. The homer was Encarnacion’s 10th since being acquired from the Mariners in June, giving the Yanks a Major League-record 13 players with double digits in the home run column. Cameron Maybin (8) could soon make it 14.

“Obviously the power is tremendous, but I think the at-bats even when he doesn't get a hit, you know the pitcher has to work,” Boone said. “It feels like when they get done with him, it's a lot. It's a heavy at-bat for the pitcher to go through. That's what we've seen since we've gotten him.”

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The early-afternoon hours at Yankee Stadium saw some star power on the diamond, as Dellin Betances and Giancarlo Stanton -- owning eight All-Star appearances between them -- faced off in live batting practice.

Tyler Wade also batted against Betances, who surrendered a Stanton drive to right-center field before fanning the slugger. Betances said that he continues to be encouraged as he recovers from a right lat strain, and believes he is close to helping the Yankees' bullpen.

“I was pounding the strike zone with both pitches, so that was good,” Betances said. “It felt better. Overall, the more I get out there the more comfortable I feel. The breaking ball was good; the most I’ve thrown it for strikes. The fastball is good. That’s all I care about.”

Boone said that Betances could appear in a Minor League rehab game on Friday for Double-A Trenton or Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

“I thought he looked really good,” Boone said. “It was really exciting today to see him throw the ball the way he did. I thought the command was good and the stuff looked good. I stood in behind him. I know he's really encouraged by it. Today was, in my eyes, another big step forward for him.”

Fast times

Luis Severino's Minor League rehab start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Buffalo represented his first inning of the year, and after being confined to simulated action through the summer months the right-hander said that the speed of the game caught him by surprise.

“It was different. Way different than sim games,” Severino said. “It was like getting into a room with a bunch of candy. It was too much. I was thinking a lot of things at the same time.”

Severino allowed two runs in that inning, and with that experience out of the way is now looking forward to building his stamina while pitching more under control in his next effort. Boone said that Severino could have another start or two in the Minors before he is activated to face big league competition.

“The next one, I can go pitch,” Severino said. “The good thing is, between the days of pitch and rest, I won’t get tired. Hopefully the next time out I’ll throw more than one inning. … If they want me to throw another one down there, I will do it, but after that I’m ready to pitch in the Majors.”

Trainer’s office

Cameron Maybin has started in just one of the Yanks’ last nine games due to a sore left wrist, but Boone said that the outfielder is close to returning.

“He’s doing better,” Boone said. “I was prepared to put him in not only as a runner [on Monday] but with the idea that he could swing the bat. We'll see how he warms up today, if there's improvement. He's still dealing with some wrist things but I think he’s becoming more of an option.”

This date in Yankees history

Sept. 3, 1995: Tony Fernandez became the 10th Yankee to hit for the cycle in a 10-9, 10-inning loss to the Athletics. Fernandez completed the cycle with a ninth-inning double. The Yanks wouldn’t have another player hit for the cycle until 2009, when Melky Cabrera did it against the White Sox.