The Judge has landed.
Yankees infielder Tyler Wade posted a photo to Instagram on Saturday with Aaron Judge and his girlfriend, Samantha Bracksieck, with a private plane in the background. It included the caption “New York we’re back,” as a second spring training begins Wednesday in The Bronx for a 60-game regular season. First baseman Mike Ford and his dog Carter, along with Yankees massage therapist Doug Cecil, were also on the flight.
It’s uncertain if Judge will be ready when the Yankees are scheduled to being the regular season July 23 at the Nationals. The 28-year-old outfielder is recovering from a stress fracture in his first right rib that precluded him from taking on-field batting practice or playing in games during the first spring training. Judge recently had begun swinging off a tee at the team’s spring training complex in Florida.
Wade is expected to play an important role as a utility player for the Yankees and the lefty-swinging Ford is an option along with Luke Voit and DJ LeMahieu at first base.
The spring was also an eventful one for Bracksieck as news of her February DUI arrest came to light in May. She name-dropped Judge to Arizona police to try to get out the arrest. The 26-year-old was allegedly caught driving her car without the headlights on while going up to 10 mph above the speed limit, according to the police report.