When the New York Yankees lost captain Aaron Judge to injury, the fans banked on veteran hitters to make up for the void. However, to much dismay, the veterans succumbed under pressure. It reached a point where the team’s hitting numbers fell to an all-time league low. Due to the offensive lackluster, the Bombers as a team lost the playoff wild card spot.
The main culprits of the Yankees’ offensive slump were DJ LeMahieu, Giancarlo Stanton, and Anthony Rizzo. These three are the oldest and most experienced players in the lineup at the moment. Hence, the magnitude of responsibilities was huge. However, neither succeeded in living up to it in the past two odd months. Having said that, it seems the All-Star break fixed something the team’s staff couldn’t.
Yankees Struggling Veterans Show Signs Of Life After Months Long Slump!
The series against the Kansas City Royals brought a lot of positives for the lowly New York Yankees. After suffering two consecutive series losses, the Bombers swept the Royals at home due to a rare offensive resurgence. DJ LeMahiue, Giancarlo Stanton, and Anthony Rizzo scored a home run each across the whole series. For Rizzo, it was a moment of redemption as he broke his two months long homer-less streak. On the other hand, Giancarlo Stanton went 2-for-4 in the past two games against the Royals, marking only the second time this season he has posted multiple hits in consecutive games.
Apart from these two, DJ LeMahieu has also found his mojo back. The infielder has had at least one hit in 11 of his last 12 appearances while batting .318. While it could mean so little at this point, over the next course of stretch, these very veterans would determine if the Yankees make it to the postseason or not. As of the current circumstances, the chances look way too bleak. However, with these players returning to form and captain Aaron Judge eyeing a potential return, things could change quickly. The American League East division has been fiercely competitive throughout the season, with the Yankees battling rivals like the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles for the playoff spot. Hence navigating their way through these challenges would put the Yanks’ roster to the real litmus test.
Aaron Judge Hits Live BP, Return On Cards!
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees’ main key to success is their captain Aaron Judge who has been on the sidelines for seven weeks due to a toe injury. However, after the All-Star break, the slugger has ramped up his recovery program. He played catch and took batting sessions shortly after returning from the break. However, last weekend, he hit a major milestone.
Aaron Judge hit his first live batting practice and faced another rehabbing pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga. His swings look good, almost match ready. Moreover, the slugger was also spotted running bases, which is another major recovery step. While there is no return timeline in place, the word is that the captain could be back in a few weeks of time.
