The offseason has been good for Aaron Judge’s elbow.
After a right elbow flexor strain hindered him down the stretch last season, Judge is “doing really well” as he ramps up for the World Baseball Classic, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
“Actually, because he has ramped up his throwing program a little bit more because he’s getting ready for the WBC, he’s ahead of the game more so than he even normally is from a throwing standpoint,” Boone said Wednesday during a zoom call with reporters.
“I know it’s going really well for him, and he feels ready to go right away in camp.”
Judge, 33, suffered the injury in late July. He spent 10 days on the injured list, then played exclusively as the Yankees’ designated hitter for a month.
He returned to right field in September and, after easing back into a more regular defensive role, started each of the Yankees’ seven playoff games in the outfield.
Judge appeared measured on some throws after returning to the field, but he did not require offseason surgery.
Asked Wednesday if he felt any hesitation with Judge regarding the possibility of re-injury, Boone replied, “No, he looks great.”
Judge batted an MLB-best .331 with 53 home runs, 114 RBI and an 1.144 OPS in 2025, earning him his second consecutive American League MVP Award and his third overall.
He is set to be the captain of Team USA at the World Baseball Classic, which is scheduled for March 5-17.
Judge headlines a star-spangled Team USA roster that also includes Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, Kyle Schwarber, Bobby Witt Jr., Cal Raleigh, Gunnar Henderson and Clayton Kershaw.
CODY’S CHOICE
One player who won’t be joining Judge on Team USA is Cody Bellinger, who wants to focus on the Yankees after signing a five-year, $162.5 million contract to return.
“Don’t think this year’s going to be the year,” Bellinger said Wednesday. “Especially getting the free-agent [deal] and going into spring, you kind of just want to focus on what’s at hand here and the task at hand. I owe it to the Steinbrenner family and the Yankee organization to go and give my best foot forward and try and win a championship.”
Judge, who is set to compete in the international tournament for the first time, made a similar decision in 2023 after he signed a nine-year, $360 million contract with the Yankees.
Bellinger, 30, said he would like to take part in the WBC in the future.
Team USA has commitments from two Yankees players thus far, with closer David Bednar joining Judge in red, white and blue.
VOLPE LATEST
Anthony Volpe is rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery in Tampa, where general manager Brian Cashman says he sees the 24-year-old shortstop every day.
“He’s doing great,” Cashman said. “His rehab is [going] well. He’s in good spirits and he’s looking forward to getting back and joining us when he’s 110 percent, when we can deploy him properly.”
Volpe played through a partial labrum tear in his left shoulder for most of last season, during which he batted .212 with 19 home runs, a .663 OPS and 18 stolen bases.
Volpe is not expected to be ready for Opening Day. While Cashman declined Wednesday to specify a time frame for the fourth-year infielder’s return, he said Volpe should be back “sooner than later.”
MORE UPDATES
Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole are also progressing as planned as they work back from elbow surgeries of differing severity.
Rodón has been rehabbing in Tampa, according to Cashman, while Cole is expected to arrive there soon.
“No problems so far,” Cashman said. “No surprises so far in their rehab protocols. These are super competitors. If anything, you’ve got to try to slow them down and protect themselves from themselves, per se, because they always want to do more sooner than later.”
Rodón, 33, went 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA over 195.1 innings last season, then underwent a procedure to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur in his left elbow. He is not expected to be ready for Opening Day.
Cole, meanwhile, underwent Tommy John surgery last spring and missed the full 2025 season. The 35-year-old ace is expected to return by May or June.
