Aaron Judge takes step toward return from ab injury

TAMPA — The Aaron Judge Watch continued Friday, as the Yankee captain still hasn’t played since Sunday and isn’t expected to play Saturday.

But Judge did resume swinging on Friday after skipping four straight days following the MRI exam he had on his abdomen Monday.

Judge said prior to Friday night’s game at Steinbrenner Field against Pittsburgh that he was scheduled to hit in the batting cage — not on the field, as is customary.

“I think just cage work today,’’ Judge said. “The main goal is to be game-ready for Opening Day [in Houston on March 28]. I’m just gonna work towards that.”

Asked if he would play Saturday against Atlanta, as Aaron Boone had said was “penciled in,” Judge responded: “I don’t know. We’ll see when that day comes.”

Boone said Judge would “probably not” play after doing tee-and-toss Friday.

“Again, he’s OK,’’ Boone said of Judge. “It’s not stuff we’re concerned with. We’re just making sure that we don’t turn it into something. There’s not a rush. We’ll see what he does [Saturday] and get together and map out the next few days.”

Judge hasn’t appeared in a game since taking just two at-bats on Sunday, when he struck out twice.

He underwent an MRI exam on Monday, which Judge and the team said came back “clean.”

“All I’ll say is we’re feeling pretty good,’’ said Judge, who added he had only one MRI on the area.

He called the MRI “precautionary” and added there’s “no need to risk stuff in spring training.”

Despite his seeming lack of concern, Judge has missed time with various core muscle injuries, including twice for strained obliques, most recently in 2019.

Asked if there was a “deadline” when he’d need to see Judge back in the lineup in order for him to know he’d be ready for Opening Day, Boone said there was, but didn’t make it public, adding he still anticipated Judge’s return in time for the start of the regular season.

“I expect him to be there,’’ Boone said.