Aaron Judge, who missed 18 games with a toe injury, expects to return to the New York Yankees this season.
“It’s obvious, I expect to come back,” Judge told The New York Post’s Jon Heyman. “I will do everything to put myself in this position.”
When Judge collided with a wall trying to score a highlight reel catch at Dodgers Stadium on June 3, he tore the ligament in his right big toe. According to ESPN, the injury causes pain when walking.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has not provided an expected timeline for Judge’s recovery.
“I can’t make any promises,” Judge said, according to Heyman. “I wish I had an answer… I don’t have any answers. I’m trying to figure things out and get through this.”
The Yankees are 8-11 in the absence of Judge after a 6-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday. Before his injury, the right fielder batted .291/.404/.674.
Boone said Saturday he expects Judge to return this season but can’t guarantee that will happen, according to MLB.com Bryan Hoch.
“This is an absolute must. I can’t say that about anyone,” Boone said.
Last year, Judge won the American League’s MVP award and led the league with 62 home runs, 131 RBI and a .425 on-base percentage.
Judge gave the Yankees a 6-3 win over the Dodgers on June 3 by catching a ball that threatened to put Los Angeles in goal position as it headed for the gate of the Dodger Stadium visitors’ bullpen.
As he reached up to make the catch, Judge crashed through the gate, his foot striking the concrete ledge at the base of the bullpen doors.
Dodgers President Stan Kasten says Los Angeles is now planning to pad the concrete base of the bullpen and strengthen the fence that flew open under the force of Judge’s crash, reported Ken Rosenthal for The Athletic.
The Yankees, who were 6.0 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays on June 3, have since fallen to 9.5 games as the team struggles to play without a judge.
This isn’t the first time Judge has visited the IL in the first season of the $360 million, nine-year contract he signed with the Yankees in December. Judge was on the 10-day injured list in April after pulling his hip in an awkward slide while attempting to steal a base against the Minnesota Twins.
Given the major impact his absence has had on the Yankees’ offensive performance, New York fans are hoping Judge can return to the lineup as soon as possible.