Latest on Yankees' Aaron Judge injury: Return sooner than expected?

Yankees star Aaron Judge fractured his right wrist during a 7-2 win over the Royals at Yankee Stadium on Thursday.

NEW YORK — Maybe it won’t be as bad as it sounded.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he believed Aaron Judge (fractured wrist) could return to his lineup in three weeks before Friday’s game against the Royals at Yankee Stadium.

Boone called that time frame “very realistic” after speculation last night was that Judge would need a month and maybe more.

A 93-mph fastball fractured Judge’s ulnar styloid bone in the first inning of the Yankees’ 7-2 win over Kansas City on Thursday night.

Judge stayed in the game, even taking another at-bat, before Boone pulled him in the fourth inning.

Tests revealed the fracture late Thursday night. Judge wasn’t in the Yankees’ clubhouse while reporters were allowed in there before Friday’s game.

“Obviously one of the best players in the league, so that’s a blow,” Boone said. “We also feel like we have the capability of rallying and picking up the slack.”

Judge is hitting .285 with 26 homers and 61 RBI with a .947 OPS in 99 games.

The new right field starter? That job will go to Giancarlo Stanton, who will get “pretty much all the time” at the position, Boone said. That means an everyday outfield of left fielder Brett Gardner, center fielder Aaron Hicks and Stanton.

9 observations after Judge injury

The DH spot: With Stanton as the team’s primary DH when Judge was healthy, the spot becomes a revolving door. Miguel Andujar was slotted to DH on Friday with Neil Walker starting at third base.

Fourth outfielder: Shane Robinson was still around on Friday. Tyler Wade will be the team’s usual backup outfield option, Boone said. Wade, a natural infielder, has played all three outfield positions in the minors. Robinson could see the door when the team puts newly acquired starting pitcher J.A. Happ on the active roster.

What about Clint Frazier? Frazier was on his way to Tampa to begin rehabilitation games meant to help him recover from post-concussion symptoms on Friday, Boone said. Frazier missed the start of the season due to a concussion suffered during spring training. “Clint has been knocking on the door for more and more playing time. We’ve got to get him right first. He’s on his way down to Tampa. He was feeling better today. I actually just spoke with him within the last hour. So he’s not at a point where he is an option right now but we’ll see how the days unfold. First thing’s first with Clint, is getting him right, but once he is, he certainly becomes an option,” Boone said.

And what about Jacoby Ellsbury? He’s not an option, Boone said. “That timeline doesn’t exist yet. Because he’s not even really back into baseball activities. So I wouldn’t say that is not an option,” the manager said.

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