Will Aaron Judge play for the Yankees on Opening Day?

The New York Yankees have had a rough start to the week, and things are not looking up for them. Just a day after manager Aaron Boone announced that Gerrit Cole would undergo an MRI to assess his pitching elbow, team captain Aaron Judge revealed that he is currently encountering abdominal pain that will prevent him from swinging for the remainder of Spring Training.

Judge spoke to the media this Tuesday morning after talking with infielders DJ LeMathieu and Anthony Rizzo in the local Steinbrenner Field clubhouse. Boone had previously stated that Judge would require a few days of rest, but Judge provided a more detailed update on his condition.

Aaron Judge aims to be ready for Opening Day on March 28, but he cannot guarantee his participation. When asked about his availability for the first game of the 2024 season, he responded, “I hope so.”

Judge explained that his injuries had left him feeling a bit beat up, but after some tests, everything seemed to be going well. He added that he needs a couple of days to recover and hopes to be back in action soon. In the meantime, he intends to focus on making defensive plays instead of taking at-bats to prepare for opening day. In 2023, Judge missed a few games due to injuries, including almost two months of playtime after injuring his right thumb when he collided with the right wall of Dodger Stadium in early June.

“I think just swinging from November all the way until now, every single day, put some wear and tear on it, especially coming back after a [right] toe injury when your mechanics are a little messed up, and you’re just working on some things,” Judge commented on how the abdominal pains arose.

The Yankees outfielder emphasized that he will not rush his return since spring games are unimportant.

“I think it’s just part of being a baseball player every day. I’d rather take a couple of days now when these games don’t matter than miss some games in April or May.”

Boone shares the latest on Gerrit Cole

Manager Aaron Boone stated on Tuesday, prior to their game against the Toronto Blue Jays, that there was no significant update yet on the condition of the 2023 Cy Young winner, Gerrit Cole. He mentioned that more tests would be conducted, and it may take a few more days to get a clear picture.

The Yankees are seeking opinions from multiple specialists regarding the MRI and want to ensure they completely understand Cole’s current condition.