Judge will need "constant maintenance" from 2023 injury

One of the biggest pieces, if not the biggest, piece of the Yankees lineup shared some interesting comments about the injury that affected his 2023 season, and might linger for the rest of his career.

"Anything with injuries like that, you’ve just got to stay on top of it so it doesn’t flare up again or something doesn’t happen again," Judge explained while speaking with reporters, as shared by Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "So we’re feeling good right now. We’re out there, we’re moving, we’re grooving. We’re gonna try to keep it that way." 

"Well, I keep getting hurt in right field, so that’s why I think they moved me to center field so I don’t get hurt over there," Judge said on Tuesday. "There’s definitely a gear, I think it’s just about playing smarter, understanding the field, understanding the dimensions. In that case (at Dodger Stadium), I thought I had one extra step, and I didn’t in that situation. That always goes back on me. I gotta be a little smarter there. Just like this year, gotta play smart. I don’t think there’ll be any cement bottoms of walls in center field hopefully." 

​Following the Yankees' acquisition of All-Star outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres in December, multiple knowledgeable individuals cautioned the 6-foot-7 Judge against making a permanent switch to center field. Nevertheless, the 2022 American League Most Valuable Player is slated to start the 2024 season in center field. Despite Opening Day being a month away, Judge managed to find humor in the situation, making light of the topic.