Yankees’ Judge expected to miss more time
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge’s recovery from a chip fracture in his right wrist isn’t going quite as quickly as he or the Yankees thought it would.
“It’s not all the way where it needs to be,” Aaron Boone said before Wednesday night’s game. “Probably going a tick slower than we had hoped.”
While Boone said “it’s moving in the right direction,” the initial three-week diagnosis the Yankees gave when Judge went to the disabled list July 27 is no longer in play. He is still experiencing discomfort in the wrist.
General manager Brian Cashman, in an interview on WFAN Wednesday afternoon, said Judge underwent a second MRI and CT scan just to make sure there was no additional damage.
“Everything was as we expected, which was good, it’s just the time frame we undershot. So it’s going to take longer and (his return) will be whenever,” said Cashman, who added that Judge received a cortisone shot on Sunday. “But he will be back at some point. He’ll be back on track health-wise wise well in time for the meaningful games in the future. It’s just going to take longer than we anticipated.”
Judge, for the better part of a week, has been on the field at least four hours before games doing agility work and running the bases. Boone said he would try to swing a bat underwater on Tuesday.
“Again, we just want to get all that pain out of there,” Boone said. “Once that is, it’s bat in hand and I think (the rehab) goes quickly from there.”
Judge has a .285/.398/.548 slash line with 26 homers and 61 RBIs in 99 games.
Marlins hit Braves’ Acuna, benches clear
ATLANTA — Ronald Acuna Jr.’s streak of leadoff homers in three straight games ended when the Marlins’ Jose Urena hit him with his first pitch, triggering a melee that led to benches and bullpens for Atlanta and Miami emptying twice.
Urena and Braves manager Brian Snitker were ejected. Snitker had angry words for the pitcher as he led the first exodus from Atlanta’s dugout toward the mound.
Urena’s fastball hit Acuna’s left elbow, leaving Acuna in obvious pain. Trainer George Poulis hovered over Acuna, who sat on the ground near the batter’s box while players swarmed near the mound.
Order appeared to be restored until Acuna walked near the mound on his path to first base, took off a protective wrap and tossed it toward the mound. That led to players again spilling out of both dugouts and bullpens. No punches were thrown.
Acuna remained in the game to run the bases but left the game in the top of the second, walking off the field after taking his position in left field. There was no immediate word on his possible injury.
Eileser Hernandez replaced Urena.
Mariners place ace Paxton on DL
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Seattle Mariners have placed ace James Paxton on the disabled list with a forearm bruise, one day after the left-hander was struck by a line drive.
Paxton was facing the third batter in the first inning Tuesday night when Jed Lowrie lined a ball back up the middle, hitting the pitcher hard. Paxton walked toward second base in obvious pain as a team trainer and manager Scott Servais rushed onto the field.
Paxton was replaced by Felix Hernandez.
After the game, Paxton told reporters he felt tightness in his arm and could not grip a baseball. X-rays were negative.
Paxton is 10-5, including a no-hitter against Toronto, and a 3.68 ERA.