Yankees’ Aaron Judge set to return after missing time with hip strain

Aaron Judge was reinstated from the injured list by the New York Yankees and the record-setting slugger is expected back in the lineup Tuesday night against the Oakland Athletics.

The reigning AL MVP hasn’t played since April 27 because of a right hip strain. He is batting .261 with six home runs, 14 RBIs and an .863 OPS in 26 games during his first season as Yankees captain.

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New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge takes a couple of warm up throws before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

New York (19-17) went 4-6 without Judge, averaging just 3.5 runs per game despite scoring seven in each of the past two. He becomes the second regular in a week to rejoin the injury-riddled Yankees; fellow outfielder Harrison Bader has been on a tear at the plate since coming back from a strained left oblique muscle and making his season debut May 2 versus Cleveland.

Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (left hamstring strain) and third baseman Josh Donaldson (right hamstring strain) remain on the IL, along with several key pitchers including Luis Severino and Carlos Rodón.

New York began the day last in the highly competitive AL East, 10 games behind first-place Tampa Bay.

To make room for Judge on the active roster, the Yankees optioned left-hander Nick Ramirez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following Monday night’s series opener against Oakland. The move came soon after Ramirez threw 35 pitches over two scoreless innings to close out a 7-2 victory.

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New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge hits a double in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, April 15, 2023, in New York.  (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York also placed infielder Oswald Peraza on the 10-day injured list with a right ankle sprain, a move retroactive to Saturday, and recalled right-hander Greg Weissert from the RailRiders.

Judge said he won’t have any restrictions upon his return but he’ll try to avoid headfirst slides. The 6-foot-7 slugger got hurt on his 31st birthday April 26 in Minnesota when he landed hard while making an awkward headfirst slide attempting to steal third base.

He remained in the game and started the next day at Texas, then left in the fourth inning after striking out twice. Days later, he was placed on the injured list for the seventh time since making his major league debut in 2016.

Judge worked out last weekend at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa, Florida, about 30 minutes from where New York was playing the Rays.

New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge warms up before a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The four-time All-Star hit 62 home runs last season to break the American League record held by Roger Maris since 1961. Judge batted .311 with 131 RBIs, tying Mets slugger Pete Alonso for most in the majors.

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Judge became a free agent in November before re-signing with the Yankees for $360 million over nine years.