Aaron Judge undergoes an abdominal MRI as the Yankees’ injury concerns of the week continue

The New York Yankees’ spring of good vibes is quickly turning into a bad dream.

Star slugger Aaron Judge told reporters in Tampa that he had an MRI on his abs Monday — a day after manager Aaron Boone said ace Gerrit Cole would have the same test on his pitching elbow.

Judge said that while he still hopes to play on Opening Day, “there’s no real need to push it,” and he won’t swing a bat until later in the week, according to MLB.com.

On Monday, Boone said that Judge would likely be in Wednesday’s lineup. That clearly doesn’t seem to be the case now.

Judge was pulled after just two at-bats in Sunday’s game. He appeared to wince after taking a swing in his second at-bat. After that game, Boone said that it had been planned that Judge would only take two at-bats. On Monday, Boone described Judge as simply “mid-spring beat up.”

Judge has only had 14 at-bats this spring, hitting .143.

Judge missed two months last season after tearing a ligament in his right big toe crashing into a wall at Dodger Stadium, an injury that virtually tanked the Yankees’ playoff hopes. He has had issues with his midsection in the past, suffering a Grade 2 right oblique strain in Sepember 2016, ending his season. In 2019, he dealt with a left oblique strain that held him out two months.

As for Cole, the Yankees haven’t revealed the results of his MRI and Boone said the Yankees may not reveal them until Wednesday. Boone said that the right-hander and 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner was having difficulty recovering between throwing sessions this spring. He’s started just one spring training game and the rest of his work has come in live batting practices.

How concerned should New York be?

The Yankees can’t afford to lose Judge or Cole for any significant amount of time. While it appears Judge’s MRI turned out OK — considering he says he’ll begin swinging again soon — the fact that his status for the start of the season is in question has to worry the Yankees.

Opening Day is in Houston on March 28.

The addition of star Juan Soto would soften the blow of losing Judge. But the Yankees had been envisioning putting Judge behind Soto in the lineup for at least 150 games this year. Plus, the rest of the Yankees’ lineup if dotted with question marks. Can DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton stay healthy and return to the MVP-caliber versions of themselves? Can Anthony Rizzo shake off the concussion that marred his 2023 campaign? Can Anthony Volpe improve at the plate in his second year in the majors? Will Alex Verdugo be able to handle the spacious left field at Yankee Stadium while performing in his walk year?

If Judge must miss time, the Yankees would likely slide Trent Grisham into center field full-time until Judge can return. The lefty-hitting Grisham is considered one of the best defensive center fielders in the game but his offensive production has tailed off with a combined 84 OPS+ over his previous two seasons, both with the San Diego Padres.

Related Posts

Incredible winning design for huge memorial to late Queen finally revealed

The winning design for a national memorial in Central London to commemorate the late Queen – Britain’s longest serving monarch – has been announced Queen Elizabeth will…

Incredible moment senior royal appears to mock Donald Trump on live TV

During his visit to the NATO summit at The Hague, Donald Trump met with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands – and many spotted a…

Prince Harry and King Charles’ feud takes fresh turn in ‘passport fury’

Prince Harry is said to have had difficulty procuring British passports for his two children – Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet – allegedly due to his desire…

Coronation Street follow-up: 3 people Nina and Summer could’ve ‘left to die’ on the night of Aadi’s party

And, is the person dead? Nina and Summer panicked this evening (Wednesday, June 25) in Coronation Street that they’d left someone to die but it’s unclear who that is….

Long Lost Family viewers fuming over ‘disappointing’ episode: ‘A big let down’

Tina and Jon didn’t get to have on-camera reunions with their blood relatives Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace viewers were left underwhelmed on Wednesday (June 25)…

Nadia Sawalha ‘livid’ as she clashes with Kaye Adams in explosive Loose Women row

She reckons women should rule the world Afurious Nadia Sawalha blasted recent coverage of Donald Trump and bombings in the Middle East as “disgusting” on Loose Women today, with…