Aaron Judge reflects on his first taste of spring training game action in 2018. pic.twitter.com/GShTxZAuCa
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) February 28, 2018
Aaron Judge didn’t make a grand entrance in his spring training debut on Wednesday afternoon against the Tigers, but the reigning American League ROY feels no pain in his surgically repaired left shoulder — which is the most encouraging news for the Yankees.
“It felt great. It felt like Opening Day again,” Judge told the YES Network. “Getting a chance to be out with the guys again, get some at-bats, see some pitches. It just felt great.”
In two at-bats hitting second in the lineup as a designated hitter, Judge went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and groundout in the Yankees’ 9-6 loss to Detroit at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. As a precaution to having offseason shoulder surgery, he sat out the first five spring training games.
At the moment, the 25-year-old has no issues with his shoulder.
Aaron Judge’s first spring at-bat: A strikeout. pic.twitter.com/FMeS9lYqYX
— Tom Hanslin (@tomhanslin) February 28, 2018
“I don’t feel anything,” said Judge, who hit 52 home runs as a rookie last season. “I feel great. That’s the kind of progress we want. We just have to build on that and take it into our next game.
“I felt like I was swinging at the right pitches. I got into a good count in my last at-bat and just missed one. But I felt good. Good first day.”
Judge is scheduled to appear in his second game of the spring on Friday night against the Atlanta Braves in Tampa. The Yankees’ plan is for Judge to play right field and see two or three at-bats.
If you want to connect with Tom Hanslin, email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @tomhanslin.
