TAMPA, Fla. — Aaron Judge's big toe is more than a footnote for the New York Yankees.
Judge missed 42 games after tearing a ligament in his right big toe when he crashed into the right field fence at Dodger Stadium on June 3, a major reason the Yankees fell out of contention. for the postseason.
“I think it's going to be a constant maintenance for the rest of my career,” Judge said Tuesday. “Anything with injuries like that, you just have to stay on top of it so it doesn't flare up again.”
The affable 6-foot-7, 282-pound slugger returned on July 28 and ended up hitting .262 with 37 home runs and 75 RBIs in 106 games.
“I keep getting hurt in right field, so I think that's why they moved me to center field,” he said, drawing laughter at a news conference.
“I think it's about playing smarter,” he continued, “understanding the course, understanding the dimensions. In that case, I thought I had one more step and I didn't do it in that situation, so that always comes back to me.” I have to be a little smarter there. So, yeah, just like this year, I have to play smart. But no, I don't think there are cement walls in center field.”
Judge hit 62 home runs in 2022, breaking Roger Maris' American League record of 61 in 1961. The Yankees hit a major league-low .202 during his absence last summer and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
“A lot of guys were embarrassed,” Judge said. “It's kind of a wake-up call, and I think collectively, as a group, we all looked at each other and said this can't happen again.”
In Judge's first season as Yankees captain, New York's 82-80 record was New York's worst since 1992 and its World Series championship drought reached 14 years, the longest for the Yankees since the 1978 gap. to 1996.
“It still eats me up. It still bites me,” Judge said.
Two months shy of turning 32, Judge has put up majestic statistics over eight seasons in the Major Leagues.
“Rookie of the Year, MVP,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “You have to win a title.”
Judge took batting practice in the field against Néstor Cortés alongside Juan Soto, the star outfielder acquired in December from San Diego before his final season before free agency. Cortes struck out Soto three times, but Judge focused on Soto's power during the day.
“A couple of the balls I had between left center and center were like how a right-hander hits them,” gushed Judge, the right-handed hitter. “He has a great demeanor, arrogance.”
Boone plans to hit Soto and Judge at second and third, although the order could change at times, envisioning both having on-base percentages over .400. Judge batted second in 102 of 104 starts last year and 528 of 809 in his major league career, but prefers to bat third this season, behind the left-handed Soto.
“Maybe it's a little old-fashioned thinking on my part, because some of the guys I've seen growing up, the best hitters are hitting third and the run producers are hitting threes and fours,” he said.
Judge became the Yankees' first captain since Jeter from 2003 to 2014 after signing a nine-year, $360 million contract. He has evolved into a tougher role that, according to Boone, requires Judge “to be a little firm in certain situations.”
“There's been incremental progress in his leadership every year,” the coach said, “and maybe it increased a little more last year because now you're the captain of this team and with that comes responsibility.”
Already a five-time All-Star, Judge has a .282 average, 257 home runs, 572 RBIs and a .982 OPS.
“He's not only the face of our team, but I certainly think he's one of the faces of the game,” Boone said. “With good health, in a few years he will start to have a longevity where you will see him start to put up numbers that rival the greats. We just have to take care of the championship part.”
Judge says he will be judged by titles.
“My best season will be when we get that trophy,” he said.
