It's definitely an unusual way to use a power hitter who has twice led all of baseball in home runs, and has averaged 50 homers per 162 games in his career. But Yankees star Aaron Judge has previously been a leadoff batter, and with the ongoing foot injury to outfielder D.J. LeMahieu, the team’s expected leadoff hitter, the chance of Judge taking on that role on Opening Day next week has become more likely.
In fact, The Athletic released its predicted 2024 Yankees roster, and Judge is firmly placed at the top of the lineup. The site also lists infielders Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe as potential leadoff men if Judge is not the right fit for the job.
“LeMahieu was also the Yankees’ anticipated leadoff man. Judge should take his place on Opening Day. He’s the Yankees’ best hitter, a lefty will be starting and Judge has hit .352 with a 1.177 OPS in 36 career leadoff appearances. Volpe and Torres could also be considered for the leadoff position,” wrote Brendan Kuty and Chris Kirschner on the site.
Aaron Judge Wants to Bat Third
However, putting Judge in the leadoff spot would not be entirely in line with his wishes. He batted there briefly in 2022, when he finished the season—as he was pursuing the A.L. all-time home run record of 62—and began the playoffs as the first hitter in the lineup. But after two postseason games, Judge was moved back down to the No. 2 spot. He has led off in 36 games in his career, and 34 of them were in 2022.
Last season, he primarily batted in the No. 2 spot, starting 102 out of 104 games. For his career, 2,370 of Judge’s 3,619 plate appearances have come as a No. 2 hitter.
Manager Aaron Boone mentioned last month that Judge usually prefers to bat third, a traditional spot for a player with his combination of hitting skill and power. But the Yankees like him at No. 2—or at the top for as long as LeMahieu is out.
Judge advocated for Alex Verdugo to take on leadoff responsibilities.
“Adding someone like Verdugo, who’s been a great leadoff hitter for the Red Sox for so long, having him in the mix where you can give DJ a day off and you can mix him up there at the leadoff spot,” Judge said, per MLB.com. “Then you can maybe slide me into the two-hole, Soto three, but I’ve been telling Boonie since 2021 that I want to hit third.”
Yankees Will Be Cautious With DJ LeMahieu
Nevertheless, it is not likely to happen. A 1-2-3 of LeMahieu, Judge and Juan Soto is probably how things are expected to start for the Yankees. But the LeMahieu injury, despite negative tests and being labeled a “bone bruise” on the right foot, is of some concern.
LeMahieu struggled throughout 2022 with an injury to his right foot, a fractured bone that he chose not to have surgically repaired. He reported to camp feeling 100% without surgery.
LeMahieu might well be ready before Opening Day, but keep in mind, he is 35 years old and under strict instructions from Boone to not attempt to play through injury. He could be out into April, as well.
“I’m just taking it one day [at a time] and going,” LeMahieu said per the New York Post. “Baseball-wise, I don’t think it’s going to take me much to be ready. [Boone] has told me about five times to be smart. So the last thing I want to do is something foolish and regress. That’s been made very clear by him to me.”
