Aaron Judge’s return as DH means less playing time for Giancarlo Stanton

ARLINGTON, Texas — Aaron Judge is back, which means Giancarlo Stanton is not.

The Yankees activated Judge off the 10-day injured list Tuesday and slotted him into their lineup against the Rangers as the designated hitter — a role he will fill until he is cleared to play right field again as he works back from his right elbow flexor strain.

Judge is expected to begin a throwing program on Wednesday, but it will be at least a few days until he is ready to play the field, which will limit Stanton to pinch hitting for the time being as he did during Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Rangers.

Stanton pinch-hit for Anthony Volpe in the top of the ninth inning, and grounded into a double play.

“That’s the tough part,” manager Aaron Boone said. “G’s been in such a good place now, really most of the time he’s been back. I just feel like he’s putting together real consistent, G-like at-bats where he’s a real threat all the time. So that’ll be tough to navigate here these first few days, but hopefully it’s not something that’s long.”

Of course, the wild card is if the Yankees are actually serious about putting Stanton in right field when they get back home this weekend, which they claim could be in play.

There is a certain risk-reward calculation for getting Stanton’s bat in the lineup — he has homered 10 times in his past 24 games — versus taking the chance of getting him injured after not playing the field since 2023.

Stanton took more pregame work in right field on Tuesday at Globe Life Field.

Whether he ever actually ends up playing a game in the field may depend on how long Judge needs before he is ready to play the field.

“I think [Judge] has been pretty upbeat about the progress he’s made,” Boone said. “Down in Tampa, didn’t throw, but did a lot of things in preparation for that throwing. Plyo balls and things like that, that prepare you for the throwing. So far, so good. So hopefully when he does start that throwing program, it goes well and we can progress fairly quickly.”

The Yankees hope to have a better idea of Judge’s timeline for playing the field a day or two into his throwing program.

For now, they were just happy to welcome the two-time AL MVP back into their lineup.

“Feel like he’s had a good week leading up to this, so ready to go,” Boone said. “Hopefully the start of something really good in his full comeback. … I think he’s totally fine hitting, so don’t expect any issues.”

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Jake Bird, who gave up the game-winning three-run homer to Josh Jung in the bottom of the 10th on Monday, did not just find himself in a different role by Tuesday, he was out of the big leagues altogether.

The Yankees optioned Bird to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hoping to use it as a reset for the reliever who had struggled mightily for most of July with the Rockies before he was traded at the deadline.

The Yankees also designated JT Brubaker for assignment while adding a pair of fresh arms in Mark Leiter Jr., who was activated off the injured list, and Yerry de los Santos.

Leiter got Alejandro Osuna to fly out to center to end the eighth inning.

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Austin Slater landed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left hamstring strain that he suffered in the first inning of Monday’s game.

The outfielder is expected to get an MRI exam before the Yankees leave Texas to determine the severity and how long he will be out.

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The Yankees promoted Ben Hess, one of their top pitching prospects, to Double-A Somerset on Tuesday.

The right-hander, their first-round pick last summer, posted a 3.51 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 66 ²/₃ innings at High-A Hudson Valley.

He is set to make his Double-A debut on Wednesday.