Aaron Judge's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

As expected, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (abdomen, oblique) is back in center field on Wednesday and is hitting third in the team's Grapefruit League contest versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. Judge's return to spring action had been pushed back a few days over the weekend, causing fans and fantasy managers to panic about his availability for Opening Day next week against the Houston Astros. But the Yankees and the 31-year-old All-Star continued to downplay the severity of his injuries, and fantasy managers should be able to relax a bit now that Judge is back in the starting lineup. The top-10 fantasy asset is a difference-maker at the plate when he's healthy, but it's fair to wonder how healthy he'll be in 2024 while having to start in center field for the first half of the season.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder Aaron Judge (abdomen, oblique) is likely to play in four of the team's final six Grapefruit League games. Judge was also expected to resume taking batting practice last Friday and return to spring training action on Sunday or Monday, but that didn't happen. Although fans and fantasy managers may be getting worried about Judge's Opening Day availability, especially after he missed over 50 games due to hip and toe injuries in 2023, both the Yankees and Judge continue to downplay his injuries this spring. Unless the 31-year-old former MVP doesn't return to Grapefruit League action at all this week, fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried about Judge's status for the start of the 2024 regular season. When healthy, he is an elite fantasy baseball commodity.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (abdomen, oblique) "should be good to go" for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates following an off day on Tuesday, according to manager Aaron Boone. Judge has been dealing with an abdomen/oblique issue this spring while he also noted that he is still bothered by a toe injury he suffered when crashing into the outfield wall last season. The superstar hasn't seen much spring action his far, hitting only .143 without a homer across six appearances and 16 trips to the plate. He was a monster at the plate again in the 2023 season, hitting .267 with 37 home runs and a 1.019 OPS across just 106 games and 458 trips to the plate. When healthy, he is one of the very best assets fantasy baseball has to offer.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (abdomen, oblique) did not hit on the field at camp as scheduled on Monday. Judge did take part in outfield drills, though. Both the Yankees and Judge continue to downplay his injuries in spring training, but the longer he goes without returning to a Grapefruit League game, the more concerned fantasy managers should be that his injuries will affect his performance early in the 2024 season. The Yankees are being extremely cautious with Judge after he missed almost two months with a torn ligament in his big right toe last year. The 31-year-old former MVP also missed time due to a hip injury. Injuries aside, Judge is a top-10 overall fantasy asset, but his injuries this spring are going to make fantasy managers think twice before selecting him towards the end of the first round of drafts.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (abdomen, oblique) is scheduled to resume taking on-field batting practice on Saturday. Even though the veteran didn't hit with the team on Friday, he was still taking swings in the cage. It sounds like Judge is progressing well and should be ready for Opening Day. The team won't rush to get him back into Grapefruit League action and caution is probably warranted given Judge's injury history. Still, the former MVP will need to be ready to go when the season begins in order to make good on his top-10 fantasy pick status.