Yankees’ Aaron Judge can rid himself of all the demons

LOS ANGELES — The 2023 Yankee season took a turn at Dodger Stadium. 

It was on June 3 of last year when Aaron Judge injured his foot while making a catch against the Dodgers. 

The result was a sprained toe that kept him out for almost two months and affected his performance for the rest of the season. 

The Dodgers took action by installing padding in the area to prevent similar injuries. 

Now, the Yankees return to Chavez Ravine for the first time since Judge’s injury, hoping to win their first World Series title since 2009. 

“I felt like we had a great club last year and hit a tough spell,” Judge said at Dodger Stadium, reflecting on the impact of his injury ahead of Game 1 of the World Series. “Nobody likes getting hurt, but I don’t really think about [the foot injury]. I’ve torn obliques, pulled muscles and done this and that. That was just another one you’ve got to go through.

“You can’t dwell on it and I haven’t really thought about it since it healed up and I got back out there.” 

Aaron Boone mentioned that Judge didn’t seem right after the game and the seriousness of the injury wasn’t initially realized. 

This season, a healthy Judge rebounded with 58 homers and reflected on his decision to stay with the Yankees instead of joining the Giants as a free agent. 

“It came back to me to unfinished business,’’ Judge said of remaining a Yankee, the team that drafted him over a decade ago out of Fresno State. 

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“The money was great and the teams were great and all of that,” Judge said. “But for me, it was about what I want to get out of this game and the mark I wanted to leave on the game.” 

It’s a mindset that he said he’s carried throughout his time with the organization. 

“Back to [being drafted in] 2013, being a Yankee has always been about World Series championships,’’ Judge said of what helped keep him in The Bronx following his historic 2022 regular season. “To be at that point and not have one Yankees’ Aaron Judge can rid himself of all the demons or even be at the dance yet didn’t sit well with me. That played a big role in the legacy I wanted to leave here.” 

For Judge to achieve his goal of getting the Yankees another title, he’ll need to step up his performance in the postseason. 

While other players have excelled, Judge has had some struggles. 

Entering Game 1, he has a .704 OPS with two homers, a double, and 13 strikeouts. 

A strong performance against the Dodgers could make a significant impact. 

His game-tying home run in ALCS Game 3 looked promising, but the Yankees’ bullpen troubles overshadowed his effort. 

Friday could be the start of a new chapter — as long as he stays clear of any concrete.