Aaron Judge gets rare dose of encouraging Yankees news

TAMPA — Aaron Judge on Friday underwent a scheduled CT scan on his right top rib that the Yankees hoped would provide good news on the outfielder’s stress fracture, which was revealed on March 6.

The test showed progress on Judge’s rib and that a previously unrevealed Pneumothorax issue (collapsed lung) had completely healed.

Judge underwent the test in the morning and then reported to Steinbrenner Field to continue a rehab program that has included light baseball activities.

Looking in from the outside, Tyler Wade said he was impressed with Judge’s physique, but didn’t offer a progress report.

“He looks great. His rehab, as far as I know, has been good,’’ Wade said inside the players’ parking lot while talking with reporters through a chain-link fence. “You know how he is. He doesn’t say much. It’s probably a blessing in disguise with all this stuff going on we get everybody back healthy.’’

Though the Yankees were hopeful Judge didn’t need surgery when discussing the injury in early March, manager Aaron Boone at the time said it was possible based on further testing.

“You could do surgery at some point to remove the rib. I wouldn’t say that is off the table,’’ Boone said on March 6.

Wade not only agrees Steinbrenner Field is the place to be these days, but the utility infielder also is learning from the second baseman DJ LeMahieu while baseball is shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A day after LeMahieu said the Yankees’ spring training complex was keeping him sane by allowing him to work out and participate in baseball activities, Wade echoed the veteran infielder’s words.

“I like coming here. I trust everybody in the facility, everything is clean and people are wearing gloves. I see people once they touch something, they take off the gloves and throw it away,’’ Wade said. “Coming in here, I almost feel this is the safest place to be.’’

Wade is a Southern California resident who opted to remain in the area for as long as the facility remains open. On Friday, he was joined by Clint Frazier, Luis Severino, Mike Ford, Judge and LeMahieu. Judge and Severino, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery, are rehabbing injuries.

Participating in small groups has been beneficial for Wade because he has gotten a closer look at LeMahieu’s attention to detail.

“It’s not necessarily what he is saying, it’s what he is doing. I just watch,’’ Wade said. “It is crazy how routine-orientated this guy and how professional he is. If I look at the clock, I know exactly where DJ is at. His routine is so on point.’’

With the possibility that Steinbrenner Field will be off limits to players at some point due to the coronavirus, Wade might be forced to vacate the Tampa area.

“I don’t know, that is something I would have to think about. Maybe Arizona. There are a lot of guys out there,’’ said Wade, who passes the vast amount of dead time watching Netflix and participating in a Madden video football game tournament with teammates that is in the final stages. “But hopefully since our numbers are very small that is beneficial toward us.’’