The All-Star festivities next week in Seattle will have a 6-foot-7, 282-pound-sized absence.
It was clear since Aaron Judge was named a starting outfielder for the American League that he would not be playing in the game because of a sprained right big toe, but manager Aaron Boone said Friday that the reigning AL MVP is not expected to attend the two days of All-Star events either.
“I think he’s staying here to continue treatment and baseball stuff,” Boone said before the Yankees opened a series in The Bronx against the Cubs.
Judge, who suffered the toe injury on June 3 at Dodger Stadium, has advanced to running at about 80 percent on an anti-gravity treadmill in addition to taking light swings and long tossing.
Staying back in New York for the All-Star break will allow him to continue that rehab process under the Yankees’ watch instead of making an appearance at one of MLB’s jewel events, which would include plenty of time on his feet.
As it stands, Gerrit Cole is set to be the only Yankee to attend the All-Star Game, perhaps even as the AL’s starting pitcher, though that won’t be decided until Monday.
