Why it looks like Yankees’ Aaron Judge timetable was too optimistic

The latest on the injury to New York Yankees star Aaron Judge.

BOSTON — While Aaron Judge said he believes the recovery of his fractured right wrist is going according to plan, it wasn’t all good Sunday.

Judge said he still feels “pain and discomfort,” isn’t sure when he’ll start swinging again, and wouldn’t commit to the three-week timetable manager Aaron Boone had called “realistic” for his return to a struggling Yankees lineup.

“Tough to say,” he said about his comeback before the Yankees took on the Red Sox at Fenway Park. “I don’t want to put a number on it yet. It’s tough to say but as far as I know with the trainers, we’re right on track.”

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On July 26, Judge took a fastball off the wrist in the first inning of a game against the Royals at Yankee Stadium. He played until the fourth inning, even taking another at-bat, before Boone pulled him.

At the time, Boone said he though Judge could be back in three weeks, which would put Judge’s return at or around mid-to-late August.

The way Judge sounded on Sunday, it could be longer.

On Friday, Boone said he hoped Judge could start swinging as early as Sunday. That wasn’t the case. Judge might try when he’s with the team in Chicago starting Monday.

He said he’s started light throwing.

“There’s still some pain and discomfort,” Judge said. “I know it’s still fractured. It’s not healed yet. So it’s going to take a while for that to heal up. As of right now, some of the range of motion is coming back. Just getting the strength back is the thing.”

Judge said he’ll likely wear a shield over the bone from now on.

Boone said Judge’s main problem is a “pain tolerance” thing.

“It is a chip in there, it’s a broken wrist,” he said, “so you’ve got to get it right. I think the pain will kind of tell you that.” 

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.