ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge’s side soreness has subsided. The nearly 29-year-old has been back in the lineup for consecutive games after missing a pair.
Judge said it was a result of too much behind-the-scenes work.
“I think it might have been a little issue of taking too many hundreds of swings down there in the cage before and after games,” he told reporters following a 8-4, 10-inning win over the Rays at Tropicana Field to close the series Sunday.
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Judge said he began feeling discomfort during the team’s first series of the season vs. the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.
He called the pain “tough to describe.” Manager Aaron Boone has said Judge didn’t undergo medical tests to determine the exact nature of the injury.
But Judge was playing the long game.
“Any soreness, based on track record, instead of missing a month, why not miss one game or two games?” Judge said. “What the difference between playing 155 (games) or 157. That was the intent behind it, and I’m feeling good now.”
At some one in the Toronto series or before, he wasn’t feeling great at his work at the plate. So, he put in more work.
“When the swing doesn’t feel right or the outfield doesn’t feel right or running the bases doesn’t feel right, I go right to work. I take swings, I get more routes in the outfield,” Judge said.
He said he has to “pace” himself since it’s not a full 162-game season compared to last year’s 60-game shortened schedule. Through seven games, Judge was hitting .310 with two home runs, five RBI and a .892 OPS.
“It’s about being smarter and taking care of your body,” he said.
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