NEW YORK — Yankees captain Aaron Judge remained unsure of his Division Series status following New York’s Wild Card Series sweep of the Boston Red Sox.
Sidelined since Sept. 16 by a strained right calf, Judge went to the Yankees’ Double-A ballpark in Somerset, New Jersey, for live batting practice as he tries to work his way back from a leg injury to be available later in the postseason.
“Saturday’s a long ways away, but I’m doing everything I can, all morning, night, during the game, everything to prepare myself to be ready to go,” Judge said after the 9-2 win. “So I want to be in there. So we’ll see what happens.”
Judge did not join teammates along the first-base line for introductions before the Yankees’ 9-0 win in the opener of the best-of-three series.
“I think he was getting treatment,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Judge ran in the outfield before Game 1 and before Game 2 went to Somerset to hit. He returned to the Bronx in time to watch Game 2.
A three-time AL MVP, Judge was limited to 66 games this season. The 34-year-old slugger hit .241 with 18 homers, 41 RBIs and an .871 OPS, including .174 with one homer and three RBIs in September.
Left-hander Ryan Weathers, sidelined with a left forearm flexor strain since Aug. 22, was set to throw a bullpen at Yankee Stadium.
Boone said right-hander Clarke Schmidt won’t pitch again this year. The 30-year-old relieved on Sept. 16 at Minnesota in his first big league appearance since Tommy John surgery on July 11, 2025, then was put on the injured list with right biceps inflammation.