Aaron Judge became a multi-millionaire overnight after he signed a record-breaking extension contract with the New York Yankees earlier this year. He couldn’t leave his team hanging without finishing the unfinished business of winning a championship. Thus, despite lucrative offers from the Padres and Giants, Judge returned to the Bronx.
He was awarded for his loyalty with a nine-year $360 million contract and also the captaincy of the esteemed team. Needless to say, Aaron Judge was pumped to leave a profound impact in the 2023 season. However, tables turned when Judge met with an unusual injury mid-season, which led to an eight-week-long absence and also plummeted the Yankees’ championship chances.
Aaron Judge’s Toe Injury Listed As Top 5 Weirdest Injuries Of 2023 MLB Season!
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge endured a tough time this MLB season after an unusual journey cut short his playing time. During a road game against LA Dodgers, the slugger sprinted from right field to club a catch around center-right. While he successfully completed the play, the momentum of the sprint led to a collision with the stadium’s fence. To make matters worse, the fence was open, and a concrete slab at the gate was left unattended. Judge’s toe hit that slab, and the impact tore the ligament tissue of his right toe. Subsequently, the captain landed on IL and ended up missing as many as eight weeks.
While he returned after eight weeks, Aaron Judge wasn’t at his absolute best. He confirmed that he is returning half-healthy and will play DH for the time being. Having said that, Judge eventually regained fitness but couldn’t salvage the Yankees’ campaign as they fell out of the postseason. Having said that, Sportkeeda made a list of the five weirdest injuries of the 2023 MLB season, and Judge’s toe injury featured right at the top. The list included Josh Donaldson’s injury, wherein he sliced his thumb while putting something together for his daughter. Other injuries included Adam Wainwright burning his hand while mistakenly touching a hot pan, Tony Gonsolin tripping while walking off the field, and Yusei Kikuchi witnessing cramps due to lack of sleep. Undoubtedly, the 2023 season will go down as one of the weirdest ones in MLB’s history.
How Is Aaron Judge Now?
At the time of injury, Aaron Judge said that he was not ruling out an off-season surgery. However, fortunately, as the season progressed, Judge dodged a bullet. By the end of the regular season, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone said that he expected the captain to witness a normal off-season. Judge later confirmed that surgery is off the table for now. Thus, for the 2024 season, fans must expect the superstar to pick up from where he left off in 2023.
Having said that, ahead of the 2024 season, Yankee fans’ expectations are sky-high. With Juan Soto in the fold, the supporters expect the Judge-Soto dynamic duo to unleash carnage with the bat. The stakes are undoubtedly high after a season the Yankees endured in 2023. A turnaround is necessary to reverse the lost narrative.