Luke Voit hit in hand in first game back with Yankees but ‘feeling good’

Luke Voit hit in hand in first game back with Yankees but ‘feeling good’

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Luke Voit was activated from the 10-day IL prior to Tuesday’s series opener against the Rays. He missed the first month of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus in his left knee during spring training.

Voit whiffed in his first at-bat of the 3-1 win at Tropicana Field and got hit on the right hand in his second time up. Later, Voit sent one to the fence in right, where Manuel Margot hauled it in.

Voit said his knee felt “really good” and added his hand was OK and just swollen.

“I should be good to go [Wednesday],” Voit said.

“He’s a force in this league,’’ Aaron Boone said of Voit, who led the majors with 22 homers during last year’s truncated season. “Not only is he a dangerous hitter, but he’s a really good hitter.”

The Yankees have struggled for production at first base in Voit’s absence, with Jay Bruce and Mike Ford both failing to hit. DJ LeMahieu has played there, as well, but the Yankees prefer to keep him at second base.

Luke Voit is hit in the hand against the Rays.Luke Voit is hit in the hand against the Rays.AP

Voit’s presence back from a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre allows for that to happen. Voit was fifth in the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday.

“He obviously adds length to the lineup,’’ Boone said. “He has really good power and he brings plate discipline. It’s a big deal getting him back in there.”

Boone added he would build up Voit’s playing time.

“Physically, he’s very sound,’’ Boone said.

Voit dealt with foot and abdominal injuries the past two seasons and missed the Yankees’ first 34 games this year after suffering the knee injury in March.

Miguel Andujar was optioned to SWB after Sunday’s game in The Bronx to open a roster spot for Voit.


Boone wasn’t sure how he’d handle Aaron Judge in the series at Tropicana Field, where the slugger has had issues with the hard artificial turf. He homered Tuesday and the manager said “we’ll see” when asked how many games Judge might start in the three-game series.

Judge said he expected to play every game against the Rays.

“Especially in our division,” Judge said of the series. “These are big-time games. I don’t see why I won’t be in there playing.”

Judge has dealt with lower-body soreness, as well as side soreness, in the early going, but reported no issues after Tuesday’s win. “I was good,” he said.