TAMPA — Aaron Judge is “hoping and praying” for the best for Gerrit Cole and has found the silver lining of a bleak Yankees camp: It is spring training and not yet even the middle of March.
The team captain held a brief state-of-the-Yankees address Sunday in front of his locker, where he expressed plenty of confidence in the club, even if he is among the relatively few stars still standing.
Giancarlo Stanton cannot swing a bat and needs a third round of PRP injections in his elbows.
Luis Gil is out for months with a strained lat.
DJ LeMahieu’s calf ached after two at-bats.
JT Brubaker fractured three ribs.
Top prospect Chase Hampton required Tommy John surgery.
Among the dented in the bullpen are Jake Cousins, Scott Effross, Tyler Matzek and Clayton Beeter.
But the largest worry by a wide margin surrounds Cole, whose elbow has barked for a second consecutive spring.
There is real concern that this time, Cole may not be able to avoid going under the knife.
As Judge was leaving the team’s facility Saturday, he crossed paths with an arriving Cole in the parking lot.
The two talked for about 20 minutes in a discussion Judge wanted to keep private.
“He’s a tough guy. We’ll see what happens,” Judge said Sunday after a workout. “And what he gets advised to do and what he wants to do.
“But I’m always hoping and praying for the best, man. He’s a big part of this team. He’s the ace — he’s the one that’s going to lead us and lead this pitching staff. So let’s see — hopefully good news.”
It is possible the team has lost its workhorse and rotation leader several weeks before the season has even begun — and Judge wanted to remind that the season has not yet begun.
Spring training has seen an onslaught of injuries, but “if there’s any time for something to happen, I think it’s better now,” Judge said.
“We’re not playing any meaningful games,” Judge added. “You got a couple weeks, if it’s something small you can hopefully recover and get back where you need to be. … But that’s never great to see a lot of those things.
“But I think it gives us a chance to maybe get a look at some other young guys that we have that can maybe step up and have an impact.”
Judge pointed to Gil, who himself is hurt but who last season emerged from virtually nowhere and pitched like Cole for the season’s first few months.
Judge referenced Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. as young players who are having strong camps and can take leaps.
The injuries have not darkened his hopes for this season.
“We’ll be in a good spot,” Judge said.
Without Cole and Gil, Marcus Stroman will be in the rotation, and Will Warren is the front-runner to join him.
Warren got a poor taste of the majors last season (10.32 ERA in 22 ²/₃ ⅔ innings) but has returned to become a rare bright spot in camp.
The young righty has allowed one run in eight Grapefruit League innings and looked sharper, smarter and more like the top prospect he had become.
“I haven’t [faced] him this year — but I don’t think I want to face him this year from what I’m seeing,” Judge said with a small laugh. “It’s just a little crisper, really fine-tuned all his pitches. I think the command’s gotten a lot better.”
