ARLINGTON — Aaron Judge left Thursday’s game against the Texas Rangers with an injury — but not the hand ailment that caused concern a day earlier.
The Yankees slugger departed in the fourth inning with right hip discomfort and was replaced in right field by Oswaldo Cabrera. Judge got the start after rolling up on his right hand during an awkward slide in Wednesday’s win over the Minnesota Twins.
Judge and manager Aaron Boone both expressed confidence before Thursday’s game after the Yankees captain managed to remain in Wednesday’s contest.
Boone had said before the game he’d consider resting Judge at some point during the four-game set in Arlington.
“I considered giving him a day today, and I might in this series, but no, after talking through it with him and the trainers, and then once he was all right today, no, I feel good about it,” Boone said.
Asked about the status of his hand before the game, Judge replied, “Yeah, we’re good.”
Judge struck out in both of his plate appearances before exiting. It was Judge’s first game at Globe Life Field since he hit his record-setting 62nd home run of the 2022 season there last October.
Judge said earlier Thursday he wasn’t thinking about the significance of the historic blast, which broke former Yankee Roger Maris’ 61-year-old American League single-season home run record.
“I haven’t really reflected too much on it because the offseason goes by,” said Judge, who re-signed with the Yankees on a nine-year, $360 million contract in December. “[I was] worrying about free agency stuff. I’ve got this season to deal with, so we’ll reflect when I’m about 40, 41, and then we can talk about what it means.”
Boone was more effusive about the moment.
“I thought it was a homer off the bat, but it wasn’t an absolute no-doubter so you’re watching it, and then to see it go over the fence and see his teammates react, it was probably one of those great moments that I’ll experience in my career, to get to be here and be a small part of it and witness it,” Boone said.
LOAISIGA IS ‘SORE’
The Yankees received less-encouraging injury news about reliever Jonathan Loaisiga, who last pitched April 5 before going on the injured list with right elbow inflammation.
“He was sore today, so we have to see what’s going on there,” Boone said Thursday.
“He threw yesterday, everything went well, came in today and he was pretty sore.”
The hard-throwing Loaisiga has only appeared in three games this season, recording a 2.70 ERA and one strikeout in 3.1 innings.
SCHMIDT IS READY FOR DEGROM
Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt is embracing the challenge of Friday night’s start, during which he’ll face a tough Rangers lineup — opposite two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom.
The 34-year-old deGrom is off to a hot start to the season — his first since leaving the Mets for a five-year deal with the Rangers. He boasts a 2-0 record, 3.04 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.
“It’s going to be a good atmosphere,” Schmidt said. “It’s a Friday night. I feel like there’s probably going to be a good amount of fans here. I enjoy those moments. It’s almost like, not playoff atmosphere, but it’s getting close to that. It’s good to go out there in kind of a hostile environment and have some fun and obviously match up against a good opponent.”
Schmidt is coming off of his strongest start of the season, when he didn’t allow an earned run in 5.2 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays last Sunday. The Jays scored three unearned runs, however, and Schmidt took the loss to fall to 0-2.
SECOND OPINION
The Yankees are seeking a second opinion on reliever Lou Trivino, who recently suffered a setback on his injured elbow after throwing a live session.
Boone gave the update Thursday, saying the righty met with head team physician Dr. Christopher S. Ahmad.
Trivino hasn’t pitched this season after experiencing elbow trouble in March. He posted a 1.66 ERA across 25 appearances in 2022 after being acquired by the Yankees in the midseason trade that also brought Frankie Montas, who underwent shoulder surgery in February.
()
