Judge taking dry swings as part of rehab

BALTIMORE — Aaron Judge didn’t swing a bat against a pitcher. Nor did he run the bases. Or make throws from right field to third base and home plate.

Yet, Judge’s rehab program was on full display Tuesday at Camden Yards where he took dry swings in the bullpen, played catch with outfield coach Reggie Willits and tracked Masahiro Tanaka’s bullpen pitches with bat in hand and helmet on head.

“He has done that a couple of times in the past,’’ Tanaka. “I think he was at his best this time.’’

“Just him starting to get ramped up, create a little bit of timing,’’ Aaron Boone said.

Out since suffering a strained left oblique muscle April 20 when he left a game against the Royals, Judge is making progress but no return date has been offered by the club.

“Starting to feel he is getting closer. A couple of days of throwing, he is starting to ramp up a little,’’ said Boone, who has started Clint Frazier (11 games), Cameron Maybin (nine) and Mike Tauchman (seven) in right field in his place. The Yankees are 20-7 without Judge after Tuesday’s 11-4 win over the Orioles. Didi Gregorius didn’t play in extended spring training Tuesday and Giancarlo Stanton wasn’t in the Tampa Tarpons (Single-A) lineup.

According to Boone, Gregorius was dehydrated and under the weather. The plan is for Gregorius to play Wednesday, possibly as a DH.

After the 11-4 whipping of the Orioles, Boone said Stanton had gotten hit in the leg during a live at-bat a few days ago.

“He did all his pregame work [Tuesday] and held him out as a precaution,’’ Boone said. “The knee tightened up a bit, the knee/ calfish area. Don’t think it’s a big deal and expect him to play [Wednesday].’’

As for when Stanton might come off the IL, Boone said it’s not likely until next week.

DJ LeMahieu fouled a ball off his left foot in the sixth inning and after collecting his third hit of Tuesday night’s game and scoring a run he was lifted from the game. However, the foul ball had nothing to do with the move, said Boone.

“It was a chance to get him off his feet,’’ Boone said of having an 11-3 lead after 5 ½ innings. “Half a day off.’’