St. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After just one game back after missing nine, Aaron Judge was a last-minute scratch from the Yankees’ lineup for Wednesday night’s second game of a series against the Rays. The team offered no explanation at the time they announced the lineup change.
The slugger had come off the COVID-19 list on Tuesday night and had a single. He was also hit by a pitch.
Judge, who had an All-Star worthy first half, was hitting .282/.375./.522 with 21 homers in 85 games this season After three years of having his seasons derailed by injuries, Judge had been relatively healthy to start this season, missing just five games through the first 84 for normal off days and nicks and bruises.
But then the slugger tested positive for the coronavirus coming back from the All-Star Game. He was one of six Yankees players on the COVID-19 list the week after the All-Star Game. The Yankees’ first game back after the break, against the Red Sox, was postponed because of potential exposure to both clubs through the All Star festivities.
Monday, Judge hit at the Yankees’ spring training complex trying to prove he was ready after having had to quarantine.
