While New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge is believed to be fully recovered from his toe injury from last season, the 2022 American League MVP revealed this week that the issue will be a constant concern for the rest of his career.
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Heading into last June, the Yankees were one of the better teams in the American League and seemed headed to being a playoff squad again in 2023. Then a season-shifting moment occurred when top star Aaron Judge tore a ligament in his right big toe when he slammed it into the Dodgers outfield wall while making a highlight reel catch.
At the time, Yankees fans did not know how serious it was, but as a month and change dropped over the calendar, Judge would end up being sidelined for 42 games, and by the time he returned the team was in too deep a hole to dig themselves out of and back into the playoff race.
- Aaron Judge stats (2023): .267 AVG, .406OBP, .613 SLG, 37 HR, 75 RBI, 79 R
Aaron Judge says 2023 toe injury could be a career-long issue
Well, with the 2024 season closing in, the expectation is that the five-time All-Star will be in top form and ready to anchor an improved lineup this season. However, on Tuesday, the 31-year-old revealed some trobling news about that major injury from last season.
“It’s going to be I think a constant maintenance I think the rest of my career,” Judge said during a press conference yesterday. “Anything with injuries like that, you just got to stay on top of it so it doesn’t flare up again.”
Most figured that the toe injury was behind him, but knowing it could be something he deals with for the remainder of his nine-year, $360 million deal he signed in 2022 is concerning. Aaron Judge had a rough August after returning from the injury, however, he bounced back to have a strong September to end the season.
Long-time Yankees fans remember team legend Don Mattingly developing a back injury that seemingly derailed an impressive career and led to his retirement at just 35 years old. Hopefully, this does not become a career changer for the New York slugger.
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