Yankees' Aaron Judge is 'kind of beat up' and won't play until Wednesday, Aaron Boone says

TAMPA, Fla. — Aaron Judge, too?

Yankees fans were sent reeling late Monday morning after Aaron Boone’s disclosure that Gerrit Cole had been sent for an MRI on his right elbow.

But there also was news, albeit on the surface certainly not as worrisome for fans as the Cole bombshell was, regarding Judge.

Boone, who managed Monday’s Yankees split-squad game in Clearwater against the Phillies, also revealed that Judge, who was pulled (as planned) after two at-bats on Sunday, will not play again until Wednesday.

Boone said the 2022 American League MVP was “a little mid-spring beat up with all the work they do in the cage and the back fields and stuff.”

Boone described Judge as feeling “kind of beat up” but did not go into further detail, though he referenced the outfielder’s “core” and body overall as experiencing the soreness.

When asked if he is concerned, Boone replied, “Not really.” He said he expects Judge to be in the lineup and playing centerfield Wednesday afternoon against the Red Sox at Steinbrenner Field.

Boone stressed that Judge hasn’t been bothered by his right big toe, which cost him 42 games last season after he tore a ligament while plowing through the bullpen fence in rightfield at Dodger Stadium while making a running catch.

And, as Boone said on Sunday, taking Judge out after two at-bats (the other regulars received three) was his decision going into the day.

It was a plan that Judge, who rarely if ever wants to sit, was fine with.

“He [Boone] talked to me before BP,” Judge said on Sunday. “He [said], ‘Hey, I’ve been meaning to catch you. I’ve got Grish [reserve outfielder Trent Grisham] behind you. You cool with two [at-bats]?’ I said, ‘What is it, March 10? I’m good with whatever you’ve got.’ ”

Youngsters pitch well

The Yankees won both of their split-squad games on Monday: a 2-1 victory over the Phillies and a 5-3 win over the Orioles at Steinbrenner Field . . . Righthander Luis Gil, one of the club’s top pitching prospects and someone the organization hopes can fill in as a starting option this season, struck out eight Phillies in 3 1⁄3 scoreless innings and allowed one hit and one walk. “Never seen him close to that good,” one NL scout said of the 25-year-old . . . Clayton Beeter, who started the game in Clearwater, continued his strong push to grab a roster spot out of camp. The righthander allowed two hits and struck out four in four scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 2.00 in three outings. Beeter, 25, has struck out 11 and walked three in nine innings . . . Will Warren, generally considered the Yankees’ top pitching prospect, started in Tampa. The 24-year-old righthander, battling command issues, allowed one run, three hits and three walks in three innings. Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus, who was managing the game in Tampa with Boone in Clearwater, said of Warren, “It’s major-league stuff.”

 With David Lennon

 in Clearwater, Florida