Aaron Judge, known for his towering home runs and incredible defensive abilities, has been sorely missed in the Yankees’ lineup during his absence due to injury. He has been out for five weeks due to a toe injury. Meanwhile, in his absence, the team fell out of the playoff race before the league headed out for the All-Star break.
The second half of the 2023 MLB season commenced on Friday as the Yankees took on Colorado Rockies in a three-game series. Starter Carlos Rodon got shelled as the offense once again failed to step up. However, ahead of the series opener, the fans and team witnessed an encouraging sign as the injured captain, Aaron Judge, had an absolute field day at the Coors Field.
Aaron Judge Participated In A Full Fledged Training Session Ahead Of Colorado Series!
New York Yankees fans were treated to a glimmer of hope and excitement as star outfielder Aaron Judge took batting practice during a recent workout. Ahead of the series opener against the Colorado Rockies, Judge stepped in the batter’s box for the first time after injury. Moreover, after the batting session, he did some running and agility drills in the outfield. After the practice session, he spoke to reporters on the sidelines and gave updates on his progress. The captain added that he did not feel limited at all while batting. He is slowly progressing to the stage where he needs to.
Aaron Judge further added that taking batting practice and running drills is a significant step in his recovery process. Post this, he needs to get some reps to build endurance and stamina. Further, when asked about how he is feeling overall, Judge said that he is progressing well and getting close to a return. However, the reigning AL-MVP clarified that the toe is not yet fully healed. While he does not feel any pain, the injury remains far from fully healed. While there exists no official timeline for Aaron Judge’s return to the lineup, his recent batting practice session serves as a promising sign. Having a full second half at the deck, the Yankees still have a chance for a playoff push.
Yankees Trashed By Rockies As Second Half Resumes!
Under the mentorship of a new hitting coach, the New York Yankees entered the second half of the season with a new motivation. However, Friday afternoon didn’t age well for the team. The Rockies trashed the visitors as the offense failed to support the pitchers. Starter Carlos Rodon went for four runs in five innings. On top of that, Michael King had a rare ordinary outing as he failed to relieve Rodon.
The offensive woes stayed the same. Moreover, Sean Casey’s debut game as a hitting coach ended in a 7-2 loss. Giancarlo Stanton displayed some power with a gigantic homer. But apart from Gleyber Torres, the rest failed to support him. With that, the Yankees remain tied for the last place in the East division alongside Boston Red Sox.