Two-time reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge is telling everyone he is making his return for the Yankees’ Wild Card series next Tuesday. He’s pushing hard, doing everything he can, making his intentions crystal clear to ESPN’s Jorge Castillo on Wednesday.
The MVP’s Fight to Play
Man, Judge ain’t holding back! He literally said, “That’s what the plan is. Try to get my body ready so I’m ready to go.” You gotta respect that drive. This guy was put on the IL with a right calf strain last Saturday, ending his regular season. But he got a PRP injection on Monday, and he’s already in the training and weight rooms. He’s not sitting around, that’s for sure.
He later doubled down after the team’s 9-2 win over Tampa, telling ESPN his goal is to get back ASAP. But he’s realistic, admitting, “If [Boone] says, I’m not going to be ready. I got no control over that. I got control of what I can do to try to get back as soon as I can. So, yeah, if you’re asking if I’m going to be back. I’m going to tell you, yeah, I’m doing everything I can. Every single day, I show up here to. Get back and be ready to go.” That’s pure passion.
Boone’s Caution and The Lineup Puzzle
Here’s where it gets interesting, because while Judge is practically begging to play, manager Aaron Boone was singing a different tune just 24 hours earlier. He wasn’t ruling Judge out completely, sure, but he certainly wasn’t expecting the slugger to be an option for the Wild Card round. And after their win against Tampa, when asked about Judge’s comments, Boone just reiterated his earlier statement. He said they’ll wait for the time to decide, adding, “Like, I said, I’m not ruling anything out. We got days away till that. Not that I’m necessarily expecting that one way or the other, but we’re going to listen to the body and see how he heals. And if he’s in a position to do that, I, obviously, we’re going to want him.” It feels like a big disconnect between the dugout and the MVP, doesn’t it?
And if Judge *does* make the roster, it creates a whole new headache for the Yankees’ lineup. Ben Rice is holding down the DH spot. So if Rice moves to first base, that means Luis Garcia Jr. gets benched. Judge knows it too, saying he wants to play right field because “that gives us the best lineup, especially with how Benny’s swinging the bat. You got Garcia and [Paul Goldschmidt] at first base. Yeah, look, I’m a right fielder. That’s what we’re trying to do; anyway, I can get back to good form to play the outfield.” It’s a high-stakes chess match for the Yankees heading into the postseason.
The big question mark hangs heavy over the Yankees as they head into next Tuesday’s Wild Card series. Judge’s career numbers are insane, a total boost. But we’ve seen him struggle after returning from that fractured rib injury in May, going 4-for-23 with 13 strikeouts, one walk, and one homer. Can he really be in “good form” for the outfield after a calf strain and PRP injection just days before? This isn’t just about Judge; it’s about the Yankees’ best shot. Will their two-time AL MVP be on the field, or will Boone stick to his cautious gut? We’re all waiting to find out if this saga has a playoff ending or if it’s a bench warmer for Judge.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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