Coming off a 2019 season that was riddled with injuries, the unfortunate trend is continuing once again for the New York Yankees. All-Star outfielder Aaron Judge will be sidelined to start spring training due to right shoulder soreness.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced on Tuesday that Boone is experiencing soreness in his shoulder and the team plans to restrict him from hitting and throwing drills to start the spring. As a matter of caution, New York will also keep Judge out of exhibition games to begin spring, with the first game set to take place on Saturday.
Fortunately for the Yankees, the team doesn’t believe Judge’s “cranky” shoulder will sideline him for too long. Given hitters just reported for camp this week, the team has time to ease Judge into action and monitor the progress with more than a month until Opening Day.
The Yankees suffered a significant blow before spring training began when starting pitcher James Paxton underwent a rare spinal surgery. The team is hopeful he can return to action before June, strengthening one of MLB’s best rotations.