Aaron Judge will concentrate on recuperating from his toe injury rather than travel to the All-Star Game in Seattle.
The reigning AL MVP tweeted Sunday night that he officially has decided to skip Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic.
“I wanted to take the time to say thank you to all the fans who voted me in as a starter,” Judge tweeted. “I feel truly blessed to be included in this group of outstanding players- it is an honor to be among those names. Unfortunately, I will not be making the trip to Seattle. I plan to take this time to heal and rehab so I can get back on the field for my team and all of you. … I cannot wait to get back out there.”
Judge, who blasted an American League record 62 home runs last season, has been sidelined since injuring his toe in a collision with the wall in right field at Dodger Stadium on June 3.
The Yanks have gone 14-17 since Judge has been out of the lineup, including Sunday’s 7-4 loss to the Cubs.
Nestor Cortes said he’s “totally pain-free” after completing his first live batting practice since going on the injured list in early June with inflammation in his rotator cuff.
Cortes threw 20 pitches to teammate Greg Allen before Sunday’s game.
The lefty isn’t eligible to return until the first week of August after the Yankees transferred him to the 60-day injured list last week.
“Everything looked pretty crisp,” Cortes said. “I threw it into areas that I wanted to, so I guess my command is there, and I was able to drop down for I think one or two pitches, so everything felt great.”
Aaron Boone watched the session and said “we’ve got a ways to go, but I thought he looked like Nestor.”
According to Boone, the pitching plan out of the All-Star break for the series beginning Friday in Colorado is for Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and All-Star righty Gerrit Cole to start the three games.
Cole (9-2, 2.85) has said it would be “an honor” to get the starting nod for the American League, the first of his career, and Boone believes he’s “absolutely deserving” of that designation.
“I think his first-half numbers speak for themselves,” Boone said.
“He’s absolutely, if nothing else, in that discussion of short-list guys that are worthy of that honor. I think that when you include his lifetime body of work, no one should have any issue with one of the game’s great pitchers starting.
Jonathan Loaisiga (elbow) threw about 10 pitches in the bullpen, his first time on the mound since he went on the injured list in April.
Josh Donaldson appeared to tweak his calf on a first-inning pop-up, but he remained in the game.
Lefty reliever Wandy Peralta was unavailable, Boone said.
“I know it would mean a lot to Gerrit, and it would mean a lot to us if he was named.”
The Yankees have released pitcher Colten Brewer. He will sign with a team in Japan.