Judge 'feeling good' after return, targets Opening Day
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TAMPA, Fla. -- It was one swing in the first inning of a Grapefruit League game, but within the confines of the Yankees’ hopes for this season, it represented much more. Aaron Judge chugged into second base with a double, and suddenly Opening Day didn’t seem quite so far away.
Judge barreled an extra-base hit, worked a walk, and scored two runs in the Yankees’ 12-0 Grapefruit League win Wednesday night over the Pirates. The contest marked the captain’s return to on-field action after he missed nine days with abdominal discomfort.
“I’m feeling good,” Judge said. “Like I’ve been telling you guys, I’m just excited to get back in there. Get a couple of at-bats, a couple of swings and get a couple of plays in the field, and get ready for the next game.”
Facing Bucs starter Marco Gonzales, Judge made his presence felt immediately, driving in Juan Soto from first with a two-base hit to right-center field as part of the Yankees' four-run first inning.
Judge walked and scored in the second, then was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the fourth. He also was tested defensively, running down Jack Suwinski's deep flyout in the fourth inning.
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he has no doubts about Judge being prepared for the club’s March 28 season opener against the Astros in Houston.
“It was definitely good to get him out there,” Boone said. “Obviously we want to build him, get some games under his belt going into the season. I thought he had a pretty good route on the ball over his head; I liked the way he moved at that ball.”
Boone said that he plans to have Judge play again on Friday against the Mets, on Saturday against the Phillies and on March 25 against the Mets.
Judge is 3-for-15 (.200) this spring, and though he said his ideal target would be to get 30 at-bats, he said that many of those can be machine-simulated.
“A lot of the tools we have here get us ready,” Judge said. “We’ve been grinding in there off that. That’ll supplement quite a few at-bats, I think.”
Judge’s most recent Grapefruit League action had been on March 10 against the Braves. Afterward, he mentioned that he had been experiencing abdominal discomfort for about a week, mostly during the follow-through of his swings.
Judge underwent an MRI on March 11, which was clean, and then followed a modified workout program before getting back to game speed on Wednesday.
“I think we’ll be in a good spot,” Judge said. “I’m going to get my work in like I have been for the past couple of weeks, and we’ll be ready to go for Opening Day.”