MINNEAPOLIS -- The Yankees expect to add a key reinforcement to their bullpen shortly, as Albertin Chapman fired an encouraging side session on Wednesday in Tampa, Fla., and could be activated from the disabled list next week, manager Aaron Boone said.
"Everything went really well," Boone said. "I believe he's headed to New York tonight. He'll probably go in for treatment; we're hoping that he'll throw a side [Thursday] and then possibly a sim game or something right after that, and hopefully back with us sometime next week."
Chapman was placed on the DL with left knee tendinitis on Aug. 22, an injury that he had been managing since at least early May. Chapman had two platelet-rich plasma injections in the knee to speed healing. He is 3-0 with a 2.11 ERA and 31 saves in 50 appearances this season.
Boone said that Chapman's return promises to bolster a relief crew that has been touted as one of the club's greatest strengths. In Chapman's absence, Dellin Betances, Zach Britton and Player Page for David Robertson have been handling the majority of high-leverage situations.
"When we were at our best, one of the reasons was the length of our lineup; we were able to hurt you from anywhere," Boone said. "Sometimes when you saw the bottom of our lineup coming up, you almost felt better in some ways on some days because they were so capable of hurting you.
"Same thing with our bullpen. When you add another guy of Chapman's capabilities to an already strong group, it allows you in some cases to shorten the game even more."
Here comes the Judge
After two days of early on-field batting practice, Aaron Judge (right wrist fracture) joined a regular batting-practice group prior to Wednesday's game against the Twins at Target Field, spraying liners and deep drives around the outfield. He will likely do the same on Friday at Yankee Stadium.
Boone said that Judge is not joining Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for its run in the International League playoffs, though it remains possible that Judge could gather at-bats against organizational pitchers at the club's player-development complex in Tampa.
"We're not there, having decided exactly when, where or how we'll do it," Boone said. "Those are things we're talking through, what is going to be the best way to get him some at-bats in some shape or form."
Injury report
Brett Gardner (right knee inflammation) was out of the starting lineup for a second consecutive game on Wednesday, though Boone said that he is day to day and could be available off the bench. Gardner hurt his knee diving for a second-inning Gregorio Petit liner in Monday's 7-2 victory over the Twins.
Getting a Chance
Right-hander Chance Adams was recalled from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Wednesday's game. It marks Adams' third stint with the big league club this season; he has pitched twice, including his Major League debut on Aug. 4 at Fenway Park. Adams, the Yankees' No. 13 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has an 8.10 ERA in 6 2/3 big league innings.
This date in Yankees history
Sept. 12, 1996: Bernie Williams homered from both sides of the plate and drove in eight runs as the Yankees defeat the Tigers, 12-3, in Detroit. Of the 14 Yankees to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game, Williams is the only one to record at least eight RBIs.