Aaron Judge
Yankees captain Aaron Judge takes batting practice with live pitching from teammate Jonathan Loaisga. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

The 2023 season, what was supposed to be the beginning of the Aaron Judge era in the New York Yankees, turned out to be nothing short of a nightmarish season. Judge, leading the team in the first year of the nine-year gigantic contract, spent half of the tournament on the sidelines. Neither could he lead nor could he make an impact from the plate due to a ligament tear injury.

The end result wasn’t so surprising, as the Yankees fell out of the playoff race in September. It was the first time in the last seven years that the MLB playoffs didn’t feature the Bronx Bombers. Nevertheless, the learning curve will help the team plan better for the future, is what Aaron Judge, the captain, believes.

   

Aaron Judge Dedicating 99% Of His Off-Season Time To 2024 Season Preparations!

Aaron Judge
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) prepares to take batting practice with live pitching prior to the MLB game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Moments after the New York Yankees wrapped up their lost 2023 season, the captain Aaron Judge was already contemplating the solutions he wants to ring in next season. Judge confirmed his significant involvement in the front office’s decision henceforth. Not only that, the slugger had ideas for quick fixes, which he chose to keep confidential. Regardless, the captain recently opened up on his off-season preparation at a charitable event in New York. Judge, with Jayson Tatum and Tom Bradley, attended the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s event in collaboration with Fanatics. The Yankee hero was supposed to fulfill the wishes of two sick kids while interacting with many others.

Luckily, Aaron Judge was able to offer a few minutes to the New York Post to share insights of his off-season training. He said that he is spending 99% of his off-time in training and preparations for the 2024 season. He has to take a few steps in the right direction while having tough conversations with the team management simultaneously. “It’s definitely been a busy offseason. I think a lot of it is about taking care of a couple of steps,” said Judge. Additionally, the Yankee has already shed off the 2023 season disappointment and is positive of being ready in time for the next season. He has faith in the front office to do right by the team during free agency. Lastly, the Yankee captain will head for a short vacation during the final week of the month to return to grind from November.

Yankees Hitting Coach Decides On His Future!

Yankees
The Yankees’ offense hasn’t improved since Sean Casey was named hitting coach, replacing Dillon Lawson. Getty Images

In a major development, Sean Casey has confirmed of not returning as New York Yankees hitting coach for the 2024 season. He cited family reasons, saying that as a single parent, his daughters need him round the clock. He cannot stay in New York for eight months of the year, leaving his minor kids alone in Pittsburgh.

Furthermore, Sean Casey revealed that he had conversations about plans for the 2024 season with Yankees skipper Aaron Boone. While an offer was not made, Casey believes that had he committed, he would have had an optimistic chance of returning as hitting coach next year. However, Casey made it clear to Boone that he does not plan on returning as he has family duties to adhere to. Having said that, Casey has not closed the doors completely. He is looking forward to seeing how the situation evolves in the next 4-5 years.