New York Yankees star Aaron Judge anticipates being fully prepared for opening day on March 28 following an MRI examination of his abdomen.
Judge began experiencing discomfort in his abdomen during the follow-through of his swing about a week ago, and the 31-year-old has refrained from on-field batting practice over the past few days. His last appearance was on Sunday, where he struck out in both at-bats. However, Judge expressed confidence that he would resume swinging a bat later in the week.
“We ran tests. Everything comes back good,” Judge stated on Tuesday, a day after the MRI. “A little banged up. The most important thing is opening day, and I rather take some days now and be smart about it.”
Judge remains optimistic about his readiness for the season opener against Houston. He continues to engage in defensive drills and running exercises.
Despite missing 42 games last season due to a torn ligament in his right big toe, sustained in a collision with Dodger Stadium’s right-field fence on June 3, Judge initiated his off-season hitting program in November.
“I think just from swinging from November until now, every single day kind of gets some wear and tear on it,” Judge explained. “And especially coming back after a toe injury when you’re trying to, you know, mechanics are a little messed up, and you’re just working on something. So I think it’s just part of being a baseball player every day.”
