What makes Aaron Judge so excited for 2024 after Yankees' disappointing season

TAMPA, Fla. – The last rounds of Aaron Judge’s first official on-field batting practice of 2024 did not disappoint.

On a bright, but crisp-for-Florida late Tuesday morning, the Yankees captain launched several shots beyond the fences at Steinbrenner Field, pleasing the few hundred fans in jackets and sunglasses.

“That’s what I want to see!" boomed a voice from the lower box seats, prompting Judge to look up and smile. Because no one wants to see a pinstriped repeat of 2023.

“A lot of guys were embarrassed… kind of a wakeup call," Judge said of last year’s 82-80 fourth-place finish.

“Collectively, as a group, we just kind of looked at each other like, ‘This can’t happen again,’" said Judge, encouraged by the early report dates of several teammates, and their winter of work.

“It shows this is a dedicated group," said Judge. “A group that wants to go out here and right the ship."

Judge's hope for Yankees' 2024 roster

As long as Scott Boras clients Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remain in free agency, the lefty starters can't be ruled out as Yankee rotation options for 2024.

Judge expressed hope that the Yankees might add to the current roster.

"They're always working on something. That's amazing about being here with the Yankees. They're always trying to improve," said Judge, whether it's via trade or free agency.

"I definitely feel like there might be another move on the way, but you never know. We'll see."

Additions of Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo

Sharing a BP group with Juan Soto, the captain is already impressed by the new lefty slugger’s discipline at the craft of hitting, with specific cage drills.

“He’s just focused and has a plan," said Judge, who hoped the Yankees would swing the deal that brought Soto from the San Diego Padres.

“He’s the greatest hitter out there, and getting a chance to add him, it just changes the dynamic of this team," Judge said of creating more balance, including the addition of lefty-hitting Alex Verdugo.

“I've been preaching for years, 'You’ve got to try to get that guy, he's a gamer. He's a competitor,"’ Judge said of Verdugo, acquired from the Boston Red Sox.

The new Yankees' batting order

Judge has lobbied Aaron Boone about batting third, and the manager likes the benefits of balancing his left-right hitters, with DJ LeMahieu, Soto and Judge at the top.

Boone also sees Soto and Judge as “interchangeable" in the Nos. 2 and 3 spots.

“It might be a little old school thinking on my part, but some of the guys I watched growing up, the best hitters were hitting third, and the run producers were three and four," said Judge. “I don’t know why it means so much to me. I just want to find a way to help the team any way I can.

“If that’s me hitting third, it’s me hitting third."

Changes in the Yankees' structure

Before exiting for the winter, Judge expressed a desire to meet separately with owner Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman about the club’s direction.

He also questioned whether the right analytic info was being communicated to the players.

Now Judge feels that the organization’s philosophies and communication will be improved, starting with changes in the coaching staff – notably by adding hitting coach James Rowson and assistant Pat Roessler, who were previously in the Yankees organization.

This winter, Steinbrenner and Cashman spent time with Judge and ace Gerrit Cole, “talking about the different things we value and having them explain what they value."

Judge emphasized that he values run producers.

“When you go out and get a Juan Soto, get a Verdugo… I think that makes a statement," said Judge. “So, I’m pretty excited about some of things that happened."

Aaron Judge's comeback from a toe injury

Judge played 106 games last season, due to torn ligaments in his right big toe, suffered at Dodger Stadium in early June.

The collision with the right-field wall contributed to wrecking the Yankees’ season, and Judge said “it’s going (to require) constant maintenance, I think, the rest of my career.

“You’ve got to stay on top of it, so it doesn’t flare up again," said Judge, who is “feeling good right now, we’re out there moving."

Chasing a World Series crown

As Judge did two years ago, Soto is entering his free-agent walk year.

The pressure to perform extends from the field to the manager’s office, with Boone in his final guaranteed season, but “when you play in New York, it’s every year,’’ Judge said of the expectation to win a championship.

That title has eluded Judge, entering his eighth full season in pinstripes.

"It still eats at me," Judge said of a disappointing 2023. "But we've got to keep moving forward (and) just having those goals as a daily reminder is kind of what pushes me" toward a better year in 2024.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Aaron Judge addresses Yankees' moves as spring training 2024 begins