He's back: Aaron Judge returns to Yankees lineup for weekend series vs. Orioles

BALTIMORE - Just before 2 p.m., on a steamy Friday afternoon in the Inner Harbor, the Yankees made the anticipated decision to activate Aaron Judge off the injured list.

And for the first time since June 3, manager Aaron Boone wrote Judge's name on a lineup card.

"Felt like he was ready to go,'' said Boone, following a meeting with the reigning AL MVP. "Definitely good to get him back in there.''

Nearly two months since suffering a right big toe sprain, Judge served as Friday night's designated hitter in the opener of a three-game set against the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Yankees lineup: See where Aaron Judge is hitting and playing on Friday night

"It’s not 100 percent,'' said Judge, who'll be managing some degree of pain throughout the balance of the season. "The goal was getting to a point where I can play, I can tolerate it.''

To clear roster space, the Yankees optioned infielder Oswald Peraza to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and lefty-hitting outfielder/DH Willie Calhoun was designated for assignment.

Aaron Judge: "I didn't want to come back too soon''

Though it feels like an eternity since Judge was in the Yanks' lineup, "I didn't want to come back and make it worse,'' said Judge.

"That was always my biggest concern'' since landing on the IL, June 4.

Judge said he suffered a torn ligament while making a game-saving catch June 3 at Dodger Stadium, banging his right foot into the concrete base of the right field wall.

Surgery is a possibility this offseason. Judge had mentioned the chances of having a cortisone shot just before he's ready to resume playing, but he did not receive one.

The weekend plan for Aaron Judge

Boone's plan was to rest Judge in one of the next two weekend games at Camden Yards, ahead of a home series beginning Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Judge was at DH Friday night, batting second, but Boone said he considered using Judge in right field right off the bat.

The Yankees captain played the outfield and received about a dozen at-bats in a simulated setting, Tuesday and Wednesday at the team's Tampa, Fla. complex, then flew back to New York for an MRI that confirmed his readiness.

“That was my rehab assignment,’’ Judge said of his controlled Tampa workouts, without feeling the need for a minor league rehab.

And there's no time like the present, with the Yankees (54-48) entering the weekend in last place, outside of a wild card spot and eight games behind the Orioles (62-40), with the MLB trade deadline looming Tuesday.

“As much as there’s urgency for us (as a team), we’ve got to be smart about this,’’ said Boone, who emphasized communication with Judge as to building stamina and increasing playing time.

“That’ll be a day by day thing…making sure we’re circling up each night (to find out) how he’s feeling, how he’s responding, how he’s bouncing back.’’

Aaron Judge back in Baltimore

Despite missing eight weeks, Judge still leads the Yankees with 19 home runs and he's third on the club with 40 RBI, behind Gleyber Torres (43) and Anthony Rizzo (41).

Judge is batting .291 with a 1.078 OPS in 49 games this season.

As for the timing of Judge's return, against first place O's, Boone said it was about Judge's readiness and not the opponent.

"This was the time that it became in play,'' said Boone, a sentiment backed by the slugging captain.

“I want to be back out there battling with the guys,’’ said Judge. “When times are tough, and when we’re rolling, I want to be out there.’’

“This is a great young ballclub we’re playing against,'' Judge said of the surprising O's. "They’ve had a lot of success this year. I'm excited'' for this series.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Aaron Judge return: Yankees captain back in lineup vs. Orioles