TAMPA, Fla. ¨C Aaron Judge underwent an MRI on Monday after reporting discomfort in his abdominal area and expects to resume swinging a bat later this week, with the Yankees outfielder saying that his goal is to be ready for Opening Day.

¡°We ran tests, and everything came back good,¡± Judge said. ¡°It¡¯s just what I told them, I was a little banged up and needed a couple of days. Hopefully we¡¯ll get back out there soon.¡±

Judge said that the discomfort was in the middle of his abs -- noting that it was not his oblique -- and that he feels it most on the follow-through of his swing. Judge believes that it stems from the work he has been doing over the offseason.

¡°I think just from swinging from November all the way until now, every single day, it put some wear and tear on it,¡± Judge said. ¡°Especially coming back after a [right big] toe injury when your mechanics are a little messed up and you¡¯re just working on some things.

¡°I think it¡¯s just part of being a baseball player every day. I¡¯d rather take a couple of days now, when these games don¡¯t matter, than miss some games in April or May.¡±

On Monday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone had described Judge as being ¡°mid-spring beat up,¡± adding that he planned to play Judge on Wednesday against the Red Sox.

That will likely not happen. Though Judge was listed in a batting practice group on Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Judge skipped that, though he did perform outfield drills.

¡°The most important thing is getting ready for Opening Day,¡± Judge said.

Speaking to reporters in Dunedin, Boone said that Judge is now ¡°more likely¡± to return to the lineup during the weekend.

¡°Nothing [changed] other than us saying, ¡®Why are we rushing to get in there mid-week if we¡¯re not totally ready?¡¯¡± Boone said. ¡°I get that it¡¯s Aaron Judge, but I don¡¯t expect it to be an issue.¡±

Judge exited Sunday¡¯s 9-8 Grapefruit League victory over the Braves after two at-bats; Boone and Judge both said that the early exit was pre-planned, a stance that Judge maintained on Tuesday.

"No, we were scheduled to do two [at-bats], so it kind of worked out," Judge said. "It's something I've kind of felt for a week, just something slight. I was like, 'You know what? Instead of pushing through it, we¡¯ve got some time.' Let's take some time and make sure we're right."

Judge has played in six Grapefruit League games this spring, collecting two hits in 14 at-bats (.143), with a double, one RBI, two walks and three runs scored. Judge said that he'd like to have about 30 at-bats before Opening Day, and that he would resume swinging a bat "maybe later this week."

"There's no real need to push it right now," Judge said.

It has been a turbulent week for the Yankees on the injury front. Ace right-hander Gerrit Cole underwent an MRI on his pitching elbow Monday; the team has not announced the results or a timetable for Cole¡¯s return, though his Opening Day start appears to be in jeopardy.

"To see him the other night where he's still throwing 95, 97 miles an hour -- I know he¡¯s not bouncing back the way he [wants], but that guy's a perfectionist,¡± Judge said. ¡°I¡¯m hoping for the best news, even if it¡¯s him being out a couple of weeks. I¡¯ll take that over anything worse. We¡¯re all praying for the best.¡±