As the New York Yankees gear up for the much-anticipated opening day of the 2023 MLB season, all eyes are on their star captain, Aaron Judge. The former AL MVP is dealing with significant injury concerns. Judge has been missing in action for over a week now due to abdominal discomfort.
Aaron Judge, who is also nursing a gruesome toe injury from last season, excited last Sunday’s spring game against the Atlanta Braves early. After a mere two at-bats, Judge went out with abs discomfort. While the reports are clean, the captain’s prolonged absence is contradicting. Amid the uncertainty, Judge apparently resumed hitting this weekend.
Aaron Judge Resumes Hitting After A Week-Long Absence With Abs Injury
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge gave fans a scare after admitting to a potential abs injury last week. After his absence from spring games raised alarm bells, the captain confessed to having MRI scans around his abdominal region. While the scans came out negative, the captain opted for rest to avert the risk of aggravation. He said opening day is his priority, and he will build up slowly without any rush. Meanwhile, Judge skipped his initial return timeline on Saturday after skipping batting practice on Friday. Regardless, the slugger was back in action on Sunday. According to Chris Kirschner, Judge resumed batting this weekend for the first time since the diagnosis of an abs injury. “Aaron Judge hit off the tee, did soft toss, and hit off the machine today,” said Kirschner.
While Aaron Judge was also scheduled to go outside in the ballpark, the plan was scratched at the last minute. Anyways, the Yankees captain has begun ramping up for the opening day, which is a massive sign of encouragement. The franchise has already lost Gerrit Cole to elbow nerve inflammation and simply cannot afford to have two stars on the injury last at the same time. Regardless, Judge remains upbeat and optimistic about his chances of taking the field on opening day. As a cornerstone of the Yankees’ roster, the captain understands the importance of leading from the front and setting the tone for his teammates. Overall, Aaron Judge’s presence in the lineup would undoubtedly enhance the team’s chances of securing a victory in the season opener and setting the tone for a successful campaign.
Aaron Boone Downplays Judge’s Injury Concerns Ahead Of Opening Day
Meanwhile, after Aaron Judge resumed hitting this weekend, skipper Aaron Boone was asked to comment on the slugger’s probable return timeline. Boone, who earlier retracted from his original Saturday return timeline, refused to predict anything. “I’m not going to predict anymore. I’m not worried about it. We’ll see,” said Boone.
There is still no update on Aaron Judge’s return in spring. It seems the captain will end up missing the rest of the Grapefruit League stretch and directly appear for opening day. While the noting is decided for now, the fans should see Aaron Judge in action sooner rather than later. The abs injury is not deemed a major concern, which is a big blessing from the Yankees’ point of view.
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