NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge’s recovery seems to be underway following his second platelet-rich plasma injection to his right big toe, although he has yet to resume baseball activities.
Judge sustained the injury on June 3 when he collided with a wall while making a catch at Dodger Stadium. The Yankees initially announced the first injection on June 6 and confirmed another one last Thursday.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed optimism about Judge’s progress, stating, “I’m encouraged by what I’m seeing. He’s been gradually improving and able to engage in more activities. It feels like this could be the beginning of substantial advancements for him.”
Boone mentioned that the swelling has reduced, allowing Judge to perform more tasks without losing balance and aggravating his toe.
Last year’s AL MVP, Judge, set an AL record with 62 home runs. This season, he has been batting .291 with 19 home runs and 40 RBIs. The Yankees have struggled in his absence, going 9-14 while he was on the injured list and 31-19 when he was available. Since his latest injury, they have lost eight out of 13 games.
“We’ve experienced enough challenges to understand that you have to handle the highs and lows in the same manner,” stated general manager Brian Cashman.
“When we’re firing on all cylinders and playing up to our potential, we have a truly formidable team. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to maintain that level recently, and it’s evident in our performance. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, and the taste of defeat is never pleasant. We recognize that our fans are upset and dissatisfied with how things are unfolding, and we share in their disappointment. However, there’s still a considerable journey ahead, and we are committed to taking the necessary steps to reach our desired destination.”
Making his return to the lineup on Tuesday night, Harrison Bader played for the first time since straining his right hamstring while sprinting to first base on an infield single in a game against Seattle on May 29. The 29-year-old center fielder, known for his outstanding defensive skills, contributed to the team’s 3-1 victory by going 1 for 3 with a stolen base and a run scored. Originally, Bader had hoped to rejoin the Yankees for the series at Fenway Park last weekend.
Reflecting on his recovery, Bader expressed his caution about pushing himself too hard, stating, “If I found myself in a crucial situation at Fenway Park, where I needed to make a significant contribution to the team, I wasn’t completely confident that I could reach my top speed. I was uncertain about the potential consequences of pushing myself to the limit.”
However, Bader’s successful return to the lineup indicates that he has regained enough confidence and comfort to compete at a high level once again.
Bader has been performing well in the games he has played this season, currently holding a batting average of .269 with six home runs, 19 RBIs, and seven stolen bases in 27 games. It’s worth noting that he faced a delayed start to the season due to a left oblique strain he sustained during spring training, making his season debut on May 2.
In the previous year, Bader experienced a setback due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot, which kept him off the field from June 26 to September 20. However, after being acquired by the Yankees from the St. Louis Cardinals during the trade deadline, Bader showcased his power by hitting five home runs in just nine postseason games.
Bader acknowledged that his intense and aggressive playing style has contributed to his injury history, stating, “A lot of it just comes from how hard I play the game and how I attack the game, and that’s never going to change. I think maybe I need to be more selective, avoiding unnecessary risks like overextending myself to beat out an infield single when I already have a base secured… It’s about playing smart and not going over the top when it’s not necessary. I believe this approach will help me stay on the field for a longer duration.”
During the absence of Judge and Bader, the New York Yankees’ offense struggled, recording a league-low batting average of .196 in June, which is also the lowest among all Major League Baseball teams. Prior to his impressive performance of going 3 for 4 with an RBI double against Seattle, Anthony Rizzo had been struggling, hitting just .083 (4 for 48) with no home runs and four RBIs after sustaining a neck injury in a collision at first base with Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres on May 28.
DJ LeMahieu, the reigning 2020 big league batting champion, has also faced a decline in his performance, hitting .167 (15 for 90) with two home runs and five RBIs since May 14. To provide him with some rest, manager Aaron Boone opted to bench LeMahieu for the Sunday night game against Boston, and planned to rest him for at least two games against Seattle in order to rejuvenate him.
Manager Aaron Boone expressed his desire for the player in question to continue working on specific areas to improve and regain his form, emphasizing the importance of analyzing video footage. Boone stated, “I just want him to kind of continue to work on some things he’s working on to kind of get him going and get unlocked. Diving into a lot of video.”
On Tuesday night, left-hander Carlos Rodón made his return to the field, pitching for Somerset against New Hampshire. This was his first game since a two-inning spring training outing for the New York Yankees against Atlanta on March 5. Rodón, who signed a six-year, $162 million contract, had been sidelined due to a strained left forearm followed by back pain.
In his outing, Rodón performed well, allowing only one run over three innings. He recorded five strikeouts, one walk, and conceded just one hit. Of his 42 pitches, 27 were strikes. The team has been encouraged by Rodón’s progress over the past few weeks.
Rodón is expected to make three more rehab appearances, which would set him up to join the rotation in early July, shortly before the All-Star break.
Additionally, left-hander Nestor Cortes, who has been out of action since May 30 due to a strained left rotator cuff, took a step forward in his recovery by throwing from a distance of 75 feet on Tuesday.
