Harrison Bader feels “fully good to go,” though the Yankees will apply some training wheels before he goes full speed in the majors.
The center fielder, who has been sidelined since early March with an oblique strain, went through his first full day of baseball activities Thursday — running the bases, shagging fly balls, testing out his arm on throws from the outfield — and came through feeling well.
The next step will be to repeat those activities for a few days to ensure he is ready for a rehab assignment.
“Assuming all the boxes get checked in terms of how I’m responding,” Bader said before the Yankees opened a homestand with an 11-2 loss to the Twins, “it’s right around the corner, which is very exciting.”
Manager Aaron Boone said Bader has been “doing great,” but there will not be a rush to get the Bronxville native back in the majors.
Bader had just 12 at-bats in the Grapefruit League before sustaining the injury and will need more than a tune-up in the minors before he is deemed ready.
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“It’s not just going to be a few days down there,” Boone said of Bader. “He’s gotta play some games and obviously get up to playing back-to-back and volume of innings and things like that.”
Aaron Judge, who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts before Aaron Hicks replaced him in center for the eighth inning, was held off base in a regular-season game for the first time since last Aug. 28.
It snapped a career-best on-base streak of 45 games, which was the longest streak by a Yankee in the past 19 seasons.
Boone said the Yankees were “talking about some things” concerning possible bullpen transactions after he asked a lot from a few relievers.
After Jhony Brito recorded just two outs, Colten Brewer (3 ¹/₃ innings) and Ian Hamilton (three innings) covered the early and middle innings until Jimmy Cordero and utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa pitched the final two innings.
“Obviously, that’s not ideal,” Boone said about a bullpen that has been excellent but could use a fresh arm.
Kiner-Falefa made his first career appearance as a pitcher and allowed one hit and no runs in one inning.
“I loved it,” Anthony Rizzo said. “It saves us big time for [Friday].”
DJ LeMahieu (quad tightness) was out of the lineup for a second straight game, though Boone said that choice was determined Wednesday night.
The manager wanted to ensure LeMahieu received another day of rest.
“I know just going through his pre[game] stuff, felt like he was doing better,” Boone said. “Hopefully it’s not much more [time].”
Jose Trevino was absent from the starting lineup for a second straight game after he fouled a pitch off his toe Tuesday.
Boone said the catcher is “fine” and should return to the lineup Friday.
Josh Donaldson (hamstring strain) worked out on the field before the game, running sprints, changing direction and taking ground balls at third base.
Boone said they have not yet decided whether Donaldson, who could be activated as soon as Monday, will require a rehab assignment.
“He’s feeling good,” Boone said. “Now it’s just a matter of when and what.”
Carlon Rodon (left forearm strain) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and bounced back well, able to play catch Thursday.
Rodon, whose back stiffness earlier this week set back his timetable by a few days, will throw another bullpen session Sunday or Monday.
“Hopefully now getting that bump in the road out of there,” Boone said of Rodon’s back.
Luis Severino (right lat strain) threw a bullpen session Thursday and came through OK.
Boone said Severino likely will throw a split session — partly in the bullpen, partly against hitters — on Monday.
— Additional reporting by Steve Serby
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