Around the Empire: Yankees news - 8/10/18

Cut 4 | Chris Landers: Enter to win a live cow! That’s right, the Pulaski Yankees are raffling off a live cow on August 22nd as part of their Agriculture Night celebrations. New York’s Appalachian League (Advanced Rookie) affiliate, located in rural western Virginia, will also have a petting zoo and players will wear cow jerseys. Proceeds from the live cow raffle benefit 4-H of Pulaski County. Moo!

New York Daily News | Kristie Ackert: The Yankees were initially optimistic that Aaron Judge would swing a bat one week after suffering a chip fracture from being hit on the wrist. He is now a week behind that schedule, and is still experiencing discomfort.

Gary Sanchez, out of action since aggravating his groin injury on July 23rd, is continuing to rehab at the team’s player development complex in Tampa. Manager Aaron Boone said that Sanchez is scheduled to resume on-field running, and he has been doing tee, toss and throwing activities with no issues.

J.A. Happ, meanwhile, returned form the disabled list last night after suffering from hand, foot and mouth disease. He threw 94 pitches across six innings, allowing three runs on four hits to earn the win over the Rangers at Yankee Stadium.

MLB.com | Mandy Bell: Also during last night’s 7-3 victory, Giancarlo Stanton set a Statcast record with a 121.7-mph exit velocity on his fifth-inning solo home run. The blast broke Aaron Judge’s 121.1-mph mark, becoming the hardest-hit homer in Statcast history. That’s not all the fireworks from last night! Neil Walker hit a personal best, homering from both sides of the plate for the first time in his 10-year MLB career.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Players’ Weekend jerseys have been unveiled. The alternate designs, inspired by youth-league uniforms, will be worn during all games from Friday, August 24 through Sunday the 26th. The jerseys feature player nicknames on the back. (Yes, even for the Yankees.)

Hoch lists the Yankees’ nicknames, and provides the stories behind some of them. For example, Didi Gregorius will sport “The Knight.” Gregorius was formally knighted as a member of the Order of Orange-Nassau after helping the Netherlands national baseball team win a championship in the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup.

NJ.com | Randy Miller: Miller details Miguel Andujar’s issues at third base. Aaron Boone acknowledged this week that Andujar’s play at third is just “acceptable” as opposed to good. When asked to list areas that need improving, Boone responded:

I think he’s done a pretty good job on the routine play. I think he’s been fairly accurate throwing the ball when he has been able to make his routine play. I think the biggest thing with Miggy is continuing in his pre-pitch, just getting him into a consistent, good position to where he’s in a ready position as the ball’s entering the hitting zone … I think that’s the biggest thing, and that’s something that comes with reps and with work, which he puts in. And I really do believe over time he’s going to be a quality third baseman.

990 WBOB | Joshua Diemert: Finally, Josh appeared on the Red Sox podcast to discuss the weekend sweep in Beantown, Luis Severino’s recent slump, and the problems the Yankees are facing.

Didi Victory Tweet