Aaron Judge, one of the Yankees’ most dynamic and impactful players, has been sidelined with an injury for the past eight weeks. He crashed into the Dodgers Stadium on June 4 and tore the ligament tissue of his right toe. Toe injuries are something not very common in baseball. Hence, initially, the Yanks treated him without a roadmap or a fixed timeline.
In the course of nearly eight weeks, Aaron Judge went through a series of steps to ensure a return to the earliest. From taking cortisone shots to ramping up field activities with active underlying pain, the slugger has left no stone unturned to ensure a speedy recovery. Meanwhile, after nearly two months of a tedious waiting game, the worried Yankees fans are set to receive an encouraging piece of news.
Aaron Judge Could Return On Friday Vs. Orioles, Hints Yankees Skipper
New York Yankees fans are eagerly waiting to welcome back their injured captain, Aaron Judge. Since returning from the All-Star break, he has paced up his rehab program to return to the lineup. Last weekend, Judge hit his first live BP session. Further, wasting zero amount of time, the team sent him down to the Yankee organization’s training complex in Tampa for simulated games. Due to the urgency within the camp, the Bombers team has decided not to send the slugger to a rehab assignment. The sim games will determine the next course of action. On Tuesday, Judge played his first sim game and played five innings. Later, he participated in another sim game on Wednesday before returning back to New York.
While the Yankees await a final report from the trainers back in Tampa, rumors have it that Aaron Judge could likely get activated from IL on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. However, Yankee skipper Aaron Boone refused to confirm the rumor. Boone said that they would assess Judge on the basis of the trainer’s report and then come up with a plan. Right now, he does not have anything concrete timeline to offer. Having said that, the manager has not ruled out any possibility. He said that anything and every possible scenario is in play right now. It all depends on how the Yankee captain is feeling and how much can pain he manages to endure. Overall, even if Judge returns on Friday, he is unlikely to play field. For now, the team management will restrict him to a DH role. All eyes on Friday!
Yankee Teammates React To Aaron Judge’s Friday Return Rumors
Meanwhile, the Yankees players are highly excited to welcome back their leader, Aaron Judge. They understand his importance in the lineup more than anyone. Judge’s best buddy, Anthony Rizzo, said the team definitely needs him at this stage as a player and as a leader. It would massively boost the morale of the team. Further, Carlos Rodon said that Aaron Judge is the best player in the game. Hence, his return as a hitter would be highly beneficial for the team.
On the other hand, Harrison Bader, who is missing Judge in the outfield, is hoping that the captain returns on Friday. At the same time, he understands that his timeline could be different than what the rumors suggest. Irrespective of the urgency, the slugger should feel good and better to be able to return without restrictions. Overall, the anticipation and excitement around the hitter’s return are extremely high as all eyes shift to Friday’s game.