Why Aaron Boone will be a late arrival for Yankees' series opener vs ...

Show Caption

Hide Caption

Yankees' Gerrit Cole pitching live batting practice at Yankee Stadium

Yankees' starter Gerrit Cole pitching live batting practice at the Stadium.

NEW YORK - Yankees manager Aaron Boone will be a late arrival Tuesday night for the start of a big series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Boone is attending his son Brandon's high school graduation ceremonies, leaving the managerial reins temporarily in the hands of bench coach Brad Ausmus.

A former big-league catcher, Ausmus managed the Detroit Tigers from 2014-17, and the Los Angeles Angels in 2019.

Boone told Ausmus to anticipate his return "sometime later'' Tuesday evening, but Boone wasn't planning on a specific time.

"He will not make it back for start of game,'' Ausmus said of Boone "Kind of expecting him at some point, depending on New York City traffic, mid-to-late game.

"He wants to watch the graduation, be able to see his son after the graduation is over, take some pictures and then he’ll make his way back to the Stadium. But he said he’s definitely coming back.''

Boone arrived for the sixth inning of the Yankees' 4-2 win, having learned of Aaron Judge's hand injury during a phone call with GM Brian Cashman, relaying the play-by-play as Boone drove to the Stadium.

Judge was hit by a pitch and came out of the game, but X-rays and a CT scan proved negative; the Yankees' captain hopes to play Wednesday.

But it was left for Ausmus to write out Tuesday night's lineup card, which included the MLB debut of first baseman/catcher Ben Rice, a fellow Dartmouth College alum.

An exciting lefty-hitting prospect, Rice, 25, was called up to replace veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo, placed on the injured list Tuesday due to a right forearm fracture. It's an eight-week recovery period, per the Yankees.

Before the Yankees (50-24), owners of a 1.5-game AL East lead, exited Boston to begin this three-game set against the second place Orioles (47-24), Boone spoke of how complete the Orioles are as a club.

"They’ve had some injuries happen to their rotation, but their depth has served them well,'' said Boone. "They continue to get good starting pitching, they’ve been able to close out games and they have a versatile and dynamic offense.

"They’re a complete team, no doubt.''

In their early matchup this season, the Orioles took three of four games from the Yankees at Camden Yards, April 29-May2.

"Both teams have clearly established themselves as really formidable,'' said Boone. "At the same time, it is a marathon, that cliche is really true and we have a long way to go.

"All I can say is both teams are really good, really dangerous and with a lot of potential.''