Aaron Judge uncertainty still looming over Yankees

TAMPA — A little more than two hours before Monday night’s Yankees game against the Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Aaron Boone didn’t have a date when Aaron Judge will play in his first exhibition game.

According to Boone, Judge continued to participate in soft-toss drills in the batting cage and throwing up to 90 feet on Monday.

Judge arrived in camp with a bothersome right shoulder and has been limited to one-handed swings and taking cuts during flip drills.

Until Judge takes batting practice outside, it will be difficult to gauge when he will be able to face real pitching. The Yankees are taking it slowly with Judge because it is still February and there are 31 days until Opening Day on March 26 against the Orioles.

A normal spring training workload for a position player is 30-40 at-bats and there are minor league games in which a player could get five to six at-bats.

Prior to the game, Boone said he hadn’t received an update on Luis Severino’s sore right forearm. The right-handed pitcher flew to New York on Sunday and was scheduled for tests Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I’m hoping to get something [Monday]. I touched base with him this morning,’’ Boone said.

Severino experienced soreness in the area after throwing his changeup last week and was shut down. It is the second straight spring training Severino has missed time with an injury. A year ago it was a strained right rotator cuff. While rehabbing that problem he suffered a lat muscle strain and was limited to three September starts and two in the postseason.

With James Paxton set to open the season on the IL after undergoing back surgery, the Yankees could possibly be looking at starting the year with Severino inactive even if no serious issue is unearthed.

Spring training is six weeks long for the pitchers to get ready and there is four-plus weeks remaining.

Boone said Giancarlo Stanton will play left field Wednesday against the Nationals at Steinbrenner Field. Stanton made his spring training debut Monday night versus the Pirates as the DH.

“We will take it day by day,’’ Boone said of where Stanton plays.

The manager also said Miguel Andujar will start at third base Tuesday in Dunedin against the Blue Jays. It will be Andujar’s second start at third.

“Plan to play the outfield in one of the next home games,’’ said Boone, whose club hosts the Nationals on Wednesday and the Rays on Thursday.

Boone has given Gerrit Cole several recommendations for restaurants in New York, but is waiting for Cole to supply some suggestions for wine.

“He hasn’t reciprocated,’’ Boone said of his staff ace and wine enthusiast.

Jordan Montgomery’s first spring training outing was exceptional. The lefty who is the favorite to take the injured James Paxton’s spot in the rotation followed Gerrit Cole and produced two scoreless and hitless innings. He walked one and fanned three. Aaron Boone mentioned Montgomery’s fastball reached 92-93 mph.

Thankfully for everybody the Pirates and Yankees opted not to play an extra inning when the score was tied, 3-3, after nine frames. If Rob Manfred wants to make that a rule he won’t get an argument from the players or the paying customers.

Spring training isn’t only for hitters to hone their swings and pitchers to build up their arms. It is also for base runners to get a feel for running the bases. Brett Gardner walked in the first inning and tried to go from first to third on Gleyber Torres ground ball that was misplayed by third baseman Phillip Evans and was an easy out.

Yankees travel Wednesday to nearby Dunedin to play the Blue Jays. Luis Cessa is slated to start for the Yankees.