Yankees slugger Aaron Judge shares update on core injury

It sure sounds like Aaron Judge isn't a lock to play in Saturday's spring training game versus the Toronto Blue Jays. The New York Yankees All-Star slugger is recovering from a sore core that understandably is concerning for fans ahead of Easter.  

"Like I’ve told you guys, there’s no rush," Judge said while speaking with reporters on Thursday, as shared by Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "We’re feeling great, though. If this is the regular season, I’m definitely in there right now. Our goal is March 28." 

The Yankees open the regular season at the Houston Astros on March 28. Judge hasn't yet been ruled out for a Saturday return to action. 

As shared by Jorge Castillo of ESPN, Judge said on Tuesday that he underwent an MRI on his abdominal area that revealed nothing too alarming. Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Thursday that Judge would take swings on Friday, but the captain who turns 32 years old in April said he's taking things "day-to-day." 

While nothing was confirmed, paying customers may not want to expect to see Judge face opposing pitchers on Saturday afternoon. 

"What comes with playing this game is understanding that these games in spring don’t matter," he said. "What matters is being there in the regular season. It’s just about making sure we’re ready to go when those games count."

The 2023 Yankees improved to 35-25 on the same day that Judge suffered a torn ligament in his big right toe last June. New York was 54-48 when he returned to the lineup in late July, and the club ultimately missed the playoffs. 

The Bronx Bombers seemingly went all-in for 2024 when they acquired All-Star outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres in December. However, ace Gerrit Cole reportedly could miss a "significant period" of time due to an issue with his throwing elbow. It was thought the Yankees could potentially replace Cole in the rotation with Dylan Cease, but such hope vanished when the Chicago White Sox agreed to trade Cease to San Diego. 

"It’s just about us being smart, doing our thing and we’ll be out there when we need to," Judge added about getting ready for Opening Day. 

Yankees fans can't be blamed for feeling pessimistic considering how much time Judge missed last summer.