CHICAGO — Aaron Judge started by simply fielding fly balls and ground balls in right field before Wednesday night’s game against the White Sox.
He would catch the ball, but not throw to the infield.
That stopped late in the exercise, when Judge — who is on the DL with a fractured right wrist — made some right-handed throws to second base that had some steam on them.
Judge has not been cleared to begin taking batting practice, because earlier this week he said pain remained in the wrist.
Judge suffered the injury when he was hit by a pitch on July 26. The Yankees estimated he would miss about three weeks.
Gleyber Torres started his second game at shortstop Wednesday night when Boone rested Didi Gregorius, who had started 46 of the past 47 games and was a pinch-hitter in the game he didn’t start. The last game Gregorius didn’t start was June 14 against the Rays when Ronald Torreyes started at short.
Since coming off the DL on July 25, Torres was hitting .178 (8-for-45) and had fanned 14 times.
J.A. Happ will make his second start as a Yankee on Thursday night, when the Yankeees play host to the Rangers. Happ has been on the DL with hand, foot and mouth disease.
“He threw a bullpen (session on Tuesday) and he has been feeling good for several days now, so he has been able to work out,’’ Boone said of the lefty acquired from the Blue Jays who is 1-0 for the Yankees. “I think he is really excited to get back with his team. We are excited we can give the ball to him.’’
Rookie right-hander Chance Adams, who took Happ’s start against the Red Sox in Boston last Saturday and gave up three runs in five innings, likely will be optioned to make room for Happ.
The Yankees didn’t take batting practice Monday because they didn’t arrive in town until 4:45 a.m. after a 4-hour-and-39 minute game Sunday night in Boston. BP was rained out Tuesday, and after needing 13 innings and 4 hours and 26 minutes to win on Tuesday night, the Yankees didn’t take BP before Wednesday night’s game. The streak is expected to stretch to four on Thursday because the Yankees were scheduled to arrive home from Chicago in the wee hours of the morning.
After watching White Sox center fielder Adam Engel deny Greg Bird and Kyle Higashioka of homers in the first two games of the series by getting his glove over the wall to snag home runs, Boone had enough.
“I don’t like him,’’ Boone said before pausing. “He has been terrific. Those were two great plays but I am not a fan of it.’’
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