As the New York Yankees prepare for the 2024 MLB season opening day, captain Aaron Judge was hit by an injury bug. The towering slugger, who also happens to be the heart of the Yanks lineup, remains doubtful for the opening day owing to an injury concern related to his abdominal region.
Aaron Judge was last seen hitting on Sunday when he batted in the first half of the 9-8 win against the Atlanta Braves. He then experienced discomfort in his abs, for which the team sought MRI scans. Amid growing concerns about his future participation on the opening day, Judge cleared the air to pronounce a positive verdict on his injury status.
Aaron Judge Optimistic About Opening Day Despite Abs Injury
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge recently faced an injury concern, leading to questions about his availability for the upcoming Opening Day. Judge was banged up by a rigorous spring schedule and off-season build, which resulted in the wear and tear on his physique. The captain witnessed discomfort last weekend and accordingly went through MRI scans to rule out extreme possibilities. Judge confirmed that MRI scans were clean and the abs discomfort was a result of excessive workload. Therefore, keeping the opening day in mind, the team has decided to let Judge rest. While the slugger was expected to return this Saturday, the odds are bleak as he missed batting and cage practice on Friday.
Meanwhile, despite looming injury issues, Aaron Judge insists that he will be fit for opening day. “The main goal is to be game-ready for Opening Day. I’m just gonna work towards that,” said Judge. Moreover, the captain explained that extended rest in spring training is nothing but a precautionary measure. He would rather skip meaningless spring games than miss crucial stretches in the regular season. Furthermore, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone also echoed Judge’s tune. He said the team is not concerned about Judge as the latter is doing OK. “We’re just making sure that we don’t turn it into something. There’s not a rush,” said Boone. While Aaron Judge’s return to the lineup on Saturday’s spring game against the Blue Jays remains uncertain, the slugger is prepared to take the field on opening day against the Houston Astros.
Judge Misses Hitting Practice; Return On Saturday Unlikely
In what turned out to be a false hope, Aaron Boone informed the media that Aaron Judge would return in center field on Saturday vs Blue Jays after a week-long absence due to an abs injury. However, contrary to Boone’s claims, the slugger missed Yankees batting and cage practice sessions held on Friday. And now, the skipper has taken a complete u-turn.
After Aaron Judge’s skipper workout, Aaron Boone labeled his return unlikely. When the Yankees captain was quizzed about the same, he also offered an indecisive take. Overall, Judge’s injury situation is only getting murkier day by day. No one has a clue as to what the future holds for the former MVP slugger. With Gerrit Cole already ruled out, it’s crucial for the Yanks to start opening day with Judge in the lineup for the extra boost.
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