The next steps for rehabbing Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge is spending this weekend on both coasts of Florida to bring him closer to a return to the Yankees.

As he works his way back from a right elbow flexor strain, Judge took on-field batting practice Friday at loanDepot Park for the first time since landing on the injured list.

The plan is for him to do so again Saturday before heading to the Yankees player development complex in Tampa on Sunday to take a few days of live at-bats.

“To hopefully put him in a position to be activated Tuesday or Wednesday,” manager Aaron Boone said before Friday’s wild, back-and-forth 13-12 loss to the Marlins.

Tuesday is the earliest Judge can be activated from the injured list. When he is, he will strictly be DH’ing for the time being, as he has yet to start throwing again.

Saturday marks a week into Judge’s throwing shutdown of 10-14 days.

Giancarlo Stanton got some more work in the outfield before Friday’s game, though it remains dubious whether the DH actually will play a game there, especially given the elbow issues he still is managing and the leg injuries that have cost him time in recent seasons.

Stanton finished Friday’s game 1-for-5 with a three-run home run and two strikeouts.

Aaron Judge walks back to the dugout after taking batting practice before the Yankees’ 13-12 loss to the Marlins on Aug. 1, 2025.

The Yankees acquired three relievers Thursday to bolster their bullpen, but all of them are right-handers.

Tim Hill has been the only lefty in the bullpen for much of the season, though lefty Brent Headrick has opened some eyes of late with the way he has thrown the ball since being recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Tim Hill has been the Yankees’ only left in the bullpen for much of the season.

Headrick recorded five outs Monday (with three strikeouts) and four Wednesday (with three more strikeouts) as the Yankees try to find the right role for him where he can hold his fastball velocity.

“Swing and miss and really efficient,” Boone said. “Filling up the zone. That first night, he got five outs in less than 20 pitches, with punchouts. It’s been encouraging what we’ve seen his first two out this go-around.”

On Friday, Headrick pitched around a walk in a scoreless sixth inning before handing the ball off to Jake Bird, David Bednar and Camilo Doval, who combined to allow nine runs in an overall terrible game for the Yankees bullpen.

Mark Leiter Jr. (left fibular head stress fracture) came through Thursday’s live batting practice session well and now is expected to pitch in a rehab game this weekend before potentially being activated during the Rangers series next week.