Yankees star Aaron Judge reveals he had a partially collapsed lung during spring training
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge was more injured than we thought — sustaining a partially collapsed lung after dealing with a fractured rib during spring training.
But he says now that that baseball’s coronavirus shutdown has a “silver lining.” He doesn’t have to rush back to the field.
Judge revealed his second injury issue to reporters Friday. His fractured rib, which dates back to a diving catch last October, caused a “pneumothorax,” according to ESPN’s Marly Rivera. Translated, that’s a partially collapsed lung.
The good news, Judge says, is the collapsed lung is now healed. The fractured rib, he says, is still getting better too. Judge told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch that baseball being in limbo because of the pandemic gives him lots more time to get right for the season:
Aaron Judge: “That’s the silver lining in all of this, having the ability to not feel rushed trying to get back for a certain date. We don’t really have a date right now. I’m just trying to let it heal. Not trying to rush it.”
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 20, 2020
The Yankees are perhaps the team that will benefit the most from a delayed start to the season. Their injuries were already piling up, and it was only March. Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, James Paxton and Luis Severino were among their hurt stars. Severino will miss the entire season with Tommy John surgery, but the rest of them would be ready for opening day should it happen in June or afterward.
Currently, the earliest it could happen is late May, based on MLB’s announced timelines.
The Yankees, however, are dealing with a different issue on their minor league side. Two Yankees minor leaguers have tested positive for COVID-19, and the entirety of their minor-league system is in quarantine.
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