Wednesday’s spring training game for the Yankees was important because it marked the return of their captain, Aaron Judge.
After being sidelined for over a week with an abdominal issue, the former AL MVP was back in the Yankees lineup for the first time since March 10 and showed what he is capable of.
In his first at-bat, Judge lined a double to score Juan Soto from first base. He also walked and scored two runs thanks to Giancarlo Stanton homers.
“It felt great. Finally got a chance to get out of the cage and get out there,” Judge said in the dugout after his three at-bats, via the YES broadcast. “It was fun being a part of this game tonight. Especially with Stanton doing his thing, everyone in the lineup clicking on all cylinders. It was fun to watch.”
Judge had been taking swings in a batting cage behind the scenes as he was recovering. When asked if he felt the issue at all in Wednesday’s game, Judge took a second before saying he didn’t, and that his play on the field and at the plate was evidence of it.
Whether Judge is fully back or still on the mend, having in the lineup is great for the Yankees.
The Captain missed nearly 80 games last season with a toe injury suffered when he crashed through an outfield wall in Los Angeles. That injury derailed not only his chances at back-to-back MVPs but the Yankees' season, as they struggled to score runs without their best player.
With the additions of Soto and other pieces, the Yanks are primed to make a deeper run this season with an improved offense -- without Judge having to bear the burden.
Wednesday was, hopefully, a peek into what the Yankees offense can be in 2024. New York scored 12 runs on 14 hits, punctuated by Stanton’s three home runs. Judge believes this team is ready for the season to start.
“Guys are locked in and ready to go,” Judge said. “We didn’t have a great year last year. You can ask each individual that they weren’t at the top of their game and doing what they wanted to do. That lit a fire under a lot of guys, and a lot of guys came in here with an extra bit of focus, extra bit of confidence to go out there and do their thing.
“Any time you add a guy like Juan Soto, [Alex] Verdugo, [Trent] Grisham it makes it even better.”
Judge is expected to be in the Yankees lineup on Friday against the Mets, per Newsday's Erik Boland. Not only will Judge bat, but he could start in left field, which was discussed earlier in the spring.