TAMPA, Florida — Aaron Judge’s big toe isn’t just a footnote for the New York Yankees.
Judge missed 42 games after ripping a ligament in his right big toe when he collided with the right-field barrier at Dodger Stadium on June 3, which was a major reason the Yankees fell out of playoff contention.
“It’s going to be I think a constant maintenance I think the rest of my career,” Judge told reporters on Tuesday. “Anything with injuries like that, you just got to stay on top of it so it doesn’t flare up again.”
The amiable 6-foot-7, 282-pound slugger returned on July 28 and ended up hitting.In 106 games, he had 262 hits, 37 home runs, and 75 RBI.
“I keep getting hurt in right field, so I think that’s why they moved me to center field,” he stated during a press conference, prompting giggles.
“I think it’s about playing smarter,” he continued, “knowing the field and the dimensions. In that scenario, I assumed I had one more step, but I didn’t, so that constantly comes back to me. I learned to be a little smarter there. So, just like this year, I’ve got to play smart. But, no, I don’t think there will be any cement bottoms on the walls in center field.”
Judge hit 62 home runs in 2022, topping Roger Maris’ American League record of 61 from 1961. During his absence last summer, the Yankees batted.202, the lowest in the league, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
“A lot of guys were embarrassed,” Judge explained. “Kind of a wake-up call, and I think just collectively as a group we all kind of looked at each other and said this can’t happen again.”
The Yankees’ 82-80 record in Judge’s first season as captain was the poorest since 1992, and the team’s World Series drought lasted 14 years, the worst since 1978 to 1996.
“It’s still eating away at me. “It still bites me,” Judge stated.
Judge, who is two months away from turning 32, has amassed impressive stats in eight major league seasons. He has the potential to join Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Derek Jeter in the pinstriped hall of fame.
“Rookie of the Year, MVP,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone remarked. “You need to win a title.”
Judge took on-field hitting practice against Nestor Cortes alongside Juan Soto, the talented outfielder acquired from San Diego in December and entering his final season before free agency. Cortes struck out Soto three times, but Judge concentrated on Soto’s dominance throughout the day.
“A couple of the balls that he had out to left-center were how a right-handed guy hits it,” the righty-hitting Judge exclaimed. “He’s got such a great demeanor — the swagger.”
Boone intends to hit Soto and Judge second and third, though the order may change at times, expecting them both to have.400+ on-base percentages. Judge batted second in 102 of 104 starts last year and 528 of 809 in his major league career, but he prefers to bat third this season, trailing the lefty-swinging Soto.
“It might be a little old school-thinking on my part because some of the guys I’ve watched growing up, the best hitters are hitting third and the run-producers are hitting three and four,” he told reporters.
Judge became the Yankees’ first captain since Jeter from 2003 to 2014, after signing a $360 million, nine-year contract. He has matured into a stricter role, according to Boone, which necessitates Judge “having to be a little firm in certain situations.”
“There’s just been incremental gains in his leadership every year,” the manager went on to say, “and maybe stepped up a bit more last year with actually now you are the captain of this team and there is responsibility that comes with that.”
Judge, a five-time All-Star, now has a.282 batting average, 257 home runs, 572 RBIs, and a.982 OPS.
“He is not only the face of our team, but I think certainly one of the faces of the game,” added Boone. “With excellent health, he’ll be able to accumulate stats that rival greats in years to come. We only need to take care of the championship portion.”
Judge recognizes he will be judged by titles.
“My best season will be when we’re holding up that trophy,” he told reporters.Sources:
Rays and Amed Rosario agree to a 1-year, $1.5 million contract.
The Tampa Bay Rays and infielder Amed Rosario have reached an agreement on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan Tuesday.
Rosario, 28, will bring a solid bat against left-handed pitching and should see action at shortstop, second base, and possibly corner outfield.
He was traded from the Cleveland Guardians to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Noah Syndergaard just before the 2023 trade deadline. He hit.263 in 142 games for both teams, with 70 runs, 58 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases.
Overall, he has a.272 batting average, 60 home runs, 334 RBIs, 420 runs scored, and 96 stolen bases in seven MLB seasons since joining the New York Mets in 2017.
Chris Caray was hired as a TV broadcaster for Oakland A’s games.
San Francisco — Chris Caray has been hired as a play-by-play announcer for Oakland Athletics games on NBC Sports California, making him the fourth generation in his family to work as an MLB broadcaster.
Caray’s father, Chip, is the St. Louis Cardinals’ TV play-by-play announcer. Skip, Chris Caray’s grandfather, called games for the Atlanta Braves for 32 years. Chris’ great-grandfather, Harry Caray, received the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for outstanding baseball broadcasting.
“I’ve wanted to be a major league broadcaster since I was 12 years old,” Chris Caray said in a statement announcing the employment on Tuesday. “Now, I’m thrilled that that dream has come true.”
Caray joins Jenny Cavnar and veteran major league pitcher Dallas Braden in Oakland’s television booth. Cavnar was recruited this month, making her the first woman to undertake primary play-by-play duties in major league history.
Caray and his twin brother, Stefan, most recently performed play-by-play duties for Double-A Amarillo in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ system, as well as the Arizona Fall League. Chris Caray holds a journalism degree from the University of Georgia.
“Chris has tremendous skill as an announcer and a true passion for his craft, which is why he’s a rising talent in broadcasting,” stated Matt Murphy, president and general manager of NBC Sports California and NBC Sports Bay Area.
The Nationals are no longer for sale, according to major owner Mark Lerner.
WASHINGTON — Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals are no longer for sale, capping a nearly two-year hunt for a new owner.
Principal owner Mark Lerner told The Washington Post on Monday during spring training in West Palm Beach, Florida, that his family “has determined that we are not going to sell the team.” The Nationals’ representative confirmed the Post’s allegation.
The Lerner family, which has controlled the franchise since purchasing it from MLB in 2006, began looking into a potential sale in April 2022. Mark Lerner took over management from his father, Ted, in 2018, and Ted Lerner died in February 2023 at the age of 97.
The Lerners’ decision to preserve the team comes only weeks after millionaire David Rubenstein agreed to acquire the nearby Baltimore Orioles for $1.725 billion. The sale is subject to a complete vote of MLB ownership and requires 75% approval.
As part of the deal to relocate the Montreal Expos to Washington in 2005, the Orioles acquired the Nationals’ local television rights, which are still being challenged in court.
Since winning their first World Series championship in 2019, the Nationals have finished last in the NL East each of the last four seasons.
Shohei Ohtani homers in his first live batting practice with the Dodgers
GLENDALE, Arizona — Shohei Ohtani launched a powerful home run in his first batting practice against live baseball since undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery, moving him closer to participating in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ season-opening series against the San Diego Padres in Seoul.
On Monday, against Dodgers reliever J.P. Feyereisen, Ohtani unleashed a fastball that flew over the right-center field fence. The massive audience at the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch facility, which is usually the largest in the Cactus League but became even larger after the Dodgers paid $1 billion or more to sign Ohtani and right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, was primarily there to see Ohtani.
Ohtani then faced Dodgers right-hander Ryan Brasier, followed by right-hander Blake Treinen, against whom he fouled a ball off his foot and howled in pain. He recovered in plenty of time for his at-bat against Feyereisen. While he had impressed colleagues with his power during regular batting practice sessions, live BP is the closest thing to game settings.
“When he hits it, I’m like, oh, he’s Shohei, so he’s got power,” Feyereisen said. “Then I glanced back, and there was another one. So that was good. It was enjoyable to witness. And he clearly appears to be ready to go.
“I understand that he has a large following. He’s worth 700 million dollars. But he’s also one of our teammates. When he steps inside the box, you just have to attack him, and he certainly assaulted me.”
While Ohtani will not play in the Dodgers’ spring opener against San Diego on Thursday, he is scheduled to participate in games before the team travels to Korea for a two-game series on March 20-21.
Phillies president aims to sign Zack Wheeler to a long-term contract.
CLEARWATER, Florida — The Philadelphia Phillies have spoken with Zack Wheeler’s agent about a new contract as the pitcher enters his final season of a $118 million, five-year contract.
Wheeler, 33, stated last week that he prefers to negotiate an arrangement before the season begins on March 28.
“Zack wouldn’t deceive you. Of sure, we have discussed,” said Dave Dombrowski, president of operations, on Monday. “It’s a priority. We’d want to finalize that deal.”
This season, the right-handed Wheeler will make $23.6 million. He was 13-6 last season with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. His postseason ERA of 2.42 is sixth best among pitchers who have made 10 or more starts.
“He’s a guy we would love to have in our organization for a long time,” stated Dombrowski.
