The All-Star Game is an annual event in Major League Baseball (MLB) that showcases the best players from both the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The best-performing players in the leagues are chosen to participate in the event. However, the New York Yankees may have to be forced to miss this annual game this season due to unforeseen circumstances.
The Yankees, one of the most storied franchises in baseball, have a rich history of sending players to the All-Star Game. Over the years, the team has been well-represented in this midseason showcase, with several players earning spots on the AL roster. However, the 2023 season has been a different story for the Yankees. The players have struggled to make a significant impact and garner the attention necessary for All-Star consideration. Also, the players who receive a call-up would likely stay unavailable.
Yankees May Have Zero Representation In All-Star This Year!
The New York Yankees have had a challenging season. The offense struggled to produce consistently, and the pitching staff also faced its fair share of difficulties. Additionally, injuries have played a role in the team’s subpar performance this year. As a result, the team has not been able to showcase individual performances that would warrant All-Star recognition. However, the team will have someone filling up the All-Star roaster. Asper MLB rules, every team is entitled to representation in an All-Star game. Hence, the two names likely to qualify for the event are captain Aaron Judge and ace starting pitcher Gerrit Cole.
This is where the problem creeps in. Aaron Judge, as the world knows, is struggling with a toe injury. Even after three weeks of rehabilitation, the batter is having trouble walking, let alone running. Hence, he is unlikely to stay available for the event. That leaves us with Gerrit Cole. Cole is Yankees ace pitcher who has been single-handedly carrying the weight of the defense this season. Hence, the team will most probably prioritize his rest. They need Cole to stay at his absolute best for the rest of the season. Hence, the Yankees now have no other player capable of qualifying for the All-Star event. This would only be the third time in the history of the franchise that they will get into All-Star without representation. Earlier, such rare circumstances occurred in 1991 and 1943.
Aaron Judge Might Return After All-Star Break, Claims Yankee Insider
The suspense over Yankees captain Aaron Judge‘s toe injury is getting murkier every day. After the initial sprain diagnosis, the batter claimed that he had torn the ligament of his toe, which will further push his return timeline, though we don’t have any yet. Meanwhile, a Yankee insider spoke to Jon Heyman of the New York Post and said that word around the camp is that Aaron Judge might return a week or two after the All-Star break. However, it is more kind of wishful thinking.
Aaron Judge’s probable return this season looks unlikely. His toe is not healing the way it was supposed to, as per the early diagnosis. On top of that, he even canceled the schedule to resume field activities for this weekend. Judge is also feeling some pain while walking, which suggests that he has made no progress this past week. Hence, all signs point in the same direction.
