Judge has RBI double in first at-bat in return from abdominal injury
Tampa, Fla. — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge had an RBI double in his first at-bat in Wednesday night's game against Pittsburgh after sitting out nine days with an abdominal injury.
Judge hadn't played since March 10, when he struck out in both at-bats against Atlanta. He had an MRI the following day.
Judge lined a a hit to right-center in the first inning off Pirates left-hander Marco Gonzales that drove in Juan Soto. Judge then scored when Giancarlo Stanton hit a 455-foot homer that cleared the batter's eye in straightaway center field.
Judge walked to end an eight-pitch plate appearance in the second before Stanton connected on a 453-foot grand slam to left center off Gonzales.
In the fourth, Stanton hit his third homer of the night, a 426-foot solo drive to center.
Judge played four innings in center field as planned and made a nice catch moving back toward the fence on Jack Suwinski's fourth-inning liner. He was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the fourth.
Judge started feeling discomfort with his abdomen during his swing's follow-through a couple weeks ago.
“Excited to get him going,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Judge is scheduled to play three more times in the Yankees' last five spring training games in Florida.
Judge missed 42 games last season with a torn ligament in his right big toe, an injury sustained when he ran into Dodger Stadium's right-field fence on June 3. He has said the toe is feeling great.
Third baseman DJ LeMahieu, who fouled a ball hard off his right foot on Saturday, remained out of the lineup with a bone bruise.
“Trying to get the swelling out first and foremost, and doing as much as I can,” LeMahieu said. “I can already tell a difference in three or four days. A lot of improvements.”