New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge was enjoying the Tampa Bay sunshine at the team’s player development complex, taking batting practice and working the field before spring training.
But he wasn’t fucking flying balls. Instead, the $360 million man was fielding ground balls at first base.
Judge decided to go back to his high school days, where his 6-foot-7 frame was used at first base.
Judge was scooping balls off the ground and showed off his footwork taking pitches across the diamond from DJ LeMahieu and Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
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Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees hits a bat during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2022 in New York, NY (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
But Yankee fans, don’t worry. This is not going to be an everyday thing.
If manager Aaron Boone has no other choice, Judge has the experience. But Anthony Rizzo re-signed with the Yankees this offseason as did Judge, cementing the veteran lefty at first base for the next two seasons.
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Judge remains one of the best right fielders in the MLB, and he might see more time in center field if Boone wants to move Harrison Bader.
No matter how I put Judge in the lineup, the Yankees are going to need that thunderous bat every night.
Judge is coming off a landmark season, breaking the American League single-season home run record set by former Yankee Roger Maris in 1961. Judge hit 62 home runs on his way to clinching the AL MVP award after slashing .311/. 425/.686 with 131 RBIs and 133 runs scored.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees speaks to the media during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 21, 2022 in the Bronx, New York. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
While Judge enjoyed one of the best regular-season runs in decades, he would have liked a World Series ring. The Yankees were swept by the Houston Astros, who ended up winning it all against the Philadelphia Phillies. Houston has had the Yankees’ number, and the Yankees start the season trying to figure out how to change that.
Judge continues to hit well at the top of the lineup is a good start. New York also signed left-handed starter Carlos Rodón to add him to a rotation that includes Gerrit Cole, Néstor Cortés Jr. and Luis Severino.
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There was talk that Judge would return to his native California to join the San Francisco Giants, but he ultimately signed a $360 million, nine-year deal. With him, Judge became the 16th captain in franchise history, becoming the first since Hall of Famer Derek Jeter.
Expectations will be even higher for Judge because of the commitment he and the Yankees have made to securing him as a critical player for the foreseeable future. And he sounds like he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win, even if it means moving to the infield.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees during the 6th inning against the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2022, in the Bronx borough of the city of NY. (Elsa/Getty Images)
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Yankees pitchers and catchers report to camp on Wednesday and first-team practice will begin on Monday.