Yankees' Aaron Judge says last year's injury could require 'constant maintenance' for 'the rest of my career'

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Last year, Aaron Judge tore a ligament in his right big toe after crashing into exposed concrete along the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium.

The injury caused the New York Yankees slugger, and then-reigning MVP, to miss 42 games, and without him, the Bombers struggled immensely.

They were three games under .500 when Judge was out, and it was clear that upon returning, Judge wasn't 100%, leading to further struggles. 

In the first 49 games following his return from the injury, although continuing to walk and hit home runs at great rates, he did hit just .218 while DHing much more often than planned and wearing added protection on his cleats (in his final eight games, he hit .407 with a 1.654 OPS).

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Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday, June 2, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

From June 6 to Aug. 27, the Yankees went 26-43, marking their worst prolonged stretch in a generation. The cold streak put them in danger of finishing under .500 for the first time since 1993, but they narrowly kept their streak alive with an 82-80 record — but that resulted in their first missed postseason since 2016.

The good news is Judge has had an entire offseason to get fully healthy, but the bad news is, apparently, that might not be enough.

In his first media availability of spring training, Judge said that he and the Yankees will have to keep a "constant" eye on his toe as long as he is playing baseball.

"It’s going to be, I think, a constant