As pitchers and catchers get ready to show up at Yankees camp, Aaron Judge preferred to work out at first base on Tuesday, just like he did in high school. At the club’s Player Development complex, the AL MVP was seen picking balls out of the dirt and throwing them across the diamond to show off his footwork. Aaron Judge, who is 6 feet 7 inches tall and put up a first baseman’s mitt, trained with shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and second baseman DJ LeMahieu before the Yankees’ first full-squad workout on Monday.
Aaron Judge’s selection of training position surprised fans, who haven’t yet seen him playing infield games this year. Soon after the workout, the Yankees’ manager quelled speculations through a text message. Aaron Boone’s text read “nothing there.”
The Yankees have already signed Anthony Rizzo for two years for $40 million in the off-season. Therefore, it is safe to assume that Aaron Judge did a cameo only at first base on Tuesday. He has been seen a lot at the club’s Minor League complex before pitchers and catchers are required to report on Wednesday.
Aaron Judge is still one of the best right fielders in MLB, and if Boone moves Harrison Bader to center field, Judge might play there more. The power hitter played most of his games in center field last year, but when Harrison Bader joined the team, he moved to right field.
Fans have more expectations from Aaron Judge because he is their captain and the Yankees made a promise to keep him as a key player for the next few years. And it looks like he’ll do anything to help his team win, even if that means moving to the infield. No matter where he plays, the Yankees will need his thunderous bat every night.
Aaron Judge has never played any position other than the outfield in a big league inning. Last season, he made 74 starts in center field, 54 starts in right field, and 25 starts as the designated hitter. He also hit 62 home runs, which broke Roger Maris’ American League record for a single season in 2022.
In 2010, when the Athletics drafted Aaron Judge, he was a first baseman and pitcher at Linden High School. However, Judge did not sign with the A’s and opted to join Fresno State University. There the first base belonged to Jordan Ribera and his team moved Judge to the outfield. He did this because he thought Judge could catch a fly ball better.
Gerrit Cole followed Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge was not the only one who was out of place at the Yankees spring training. Gerrit Cole, who was going to be the starting pitcher, was seen in right field.
The Yankees released their spring training roster on Tuesday night, and one thing stood out — Domingo German became the second Yankee to wear No. 0. The first was reliever Adam “Big O” Ottavino, who wore it for two seasons with the Yankees and still does with the Mets. Domingo German used to wear No. 55. However, after the Yankees signed starter Carlos Rodon, they awarded him No. 55, which has been his number for the last seven years.
Tommy Kahnle got No. 41. In his first term, he wore No. 48, which has already been given to Anthony Rizzo. Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominguez, two of the Yankees’ best prospects, will have No. 77 and No. 89 respectively.
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