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Judge 'feeling really good,' could swing bat this week

G Fiume / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The New York Yankees got a little bit of positive news on the injury front.

Outfielder Aaron Judge, who's been sidelined since April 21 with an oblique injury, played catch ahead of Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

"I'm feeling really good," he told Meredith Marakovits of YES Network. "Progressing the way we want to, and it's a good sign to get a chance to get on the field again and throw a little bit."

Judge has yet to begin swinging a bat, though that could happen in the coming week as the Yankees return to the Bronx on Monday.

"Hopefully soon," he said. "Maybe when we get back home, get back to New York, maybe get a chance to start swinging, hit off a tee, something like that."

Judge added that he doesn't feel pain in his side anymore, but that the real test will come once he tries to swing a bat.

Prior to the injury, the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year was cruising at the plate with a .288/.404/.521 slash line along with five home runs and 11 RBIs in 20 games. While the Yankees have missed his presence - as well as that of several other injured players - they've continued winning. Since Judge landed on the IL, the team's gone 23-7.

"The good thing is it's been fun watching them win," Judge said. "Watching these guys go out there and get opportunities that normally they wouldn't get. They're exceeding expectations. A lot of people doubted us when a lot of us got hurt. We said from the beginning that the next guy would step up, and they have."

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