Aaron Judge is cleared for takeoff heading into the World Baseball Classic, and his elbow isn’t a concern anymore.
The Yankees’ 6-foot-7 outfield superstar dealt with a right elbow issue that cost him significant time last season and forced him into DH duty for stretches. Not exactly what you want from your franchise player.
But according to manager Aaron Boone, Judge is “doing really well” these days. MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch shared the quote on X, with Boone adding that Judge “looks great.”
That’s what Team USA wanted to hear.
Judge was among the first big names to commit to the WBC roster, and his early buy-in likely helped convince other stars to join the cause. The Americans fell short in the 2023 final against Japan and they’re looking to finish the job this time around.
From the Yankees’ perspective, they’re counting on Judge to keep doing Judge things after another MVP-caliber season in 2024. He’s built a resume that puts him in conversations about the best right-handed hitters ever, and his defense in right field remains solid.
A healthy throwing arm makes all the difference for a player who’s become the face of baseball. The long grind of a full season – plus international competition – requires everything working properly.
Judge’s elbow held up fine last year once he got past the initial issue. Now it’s about maintaining that health through what could be a career-defining stretch for both him and the Yankees.
