Yankees' Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton not likely to be ready for opening day
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman delivered some disappointing news to fans on Tuesday morning: sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are both expected to miss opening day due to injuries.
Judge has been dealing with a pectoral/shoulder issue that’s defied diagnosis despite numerous tests. He was held out of the team’s first full squad batting practice in mid-February due to shoulder soreness and had appeared to be slowly progressing toward full strength. He took live batting practice on Feb. 29 and reported feeling improved after receiving treatment the next day, but apparently the pain had migrated from his shoulder to his right pectoral muscle.
The Yankees haven’t been able to figure out exactly what’s causing the soreness, and are sending Judge for more tests.
Cashman says Judge is going through "a car wash'' of tests, 2 more today. So far, there's been ''nothing that we’ve been able to diagnose as to what ails him. They have certainly some theories on it, but until they run through everything'' team is not in position to determine.
— Pete Caldera (@pcaldera) March 3, 2020
Between the lack of a diagnosis and the ramp-up he’ll need once he’s healthy, Judge almost certainly won’t be ready for opening day.
Brian Cashman on Aaron Judge:
"I don't see him ready by Opening Day because of the time frame. It's 3 1/2 weeks. There's just the healing and then having to have a Spring Training."— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 3, 2020
Stanton has been dealing with a grade 1 calf strain since last week, which he sustained while doing work in the outfield. While Stanton isn’t experiencing any mysterious pain like Judge is, healing from the calf strain will take him out of consideration for opening day.
Cashman said that Giancarlo Stanton is considered “unrealistic” for Opening Day, but they expect him at some point in April.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 3, 2020
Injuries caused Stanton to miss all but 18 regular season games in 2019, while Judge missed 60 total games. With the two of them out, the Yankees’ outfield is likely to feature Clint Frazier, Mike Tauchman, and Brett Gardner, with possible appearances from Miguel Andujar.
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