After suffering a torn ligament last year, Aaron Judge gave an update ahead of Opening Day on March 28.

In June 2023, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said he had a torn ligament in his right big toe and felt pain when he walked.

“I’ve had different injuries over the years and it’s going to take a while,” Judge said at the time.

The MLB website indicates that Aaron Judge‘s big toe is more than just a footnote for the New York Yankees.

The right fielder missed 42 games after injuring himself when he crashed into the right field fence at Dodger Stadium on June 3.

His absence was one of the main reasons the Yankees were left without a chance to advance to the postseason.

“I think it’s going to be constant maintenance for the rest of my career,” Judge said Tuesday. “Anything with injuries like that, you just have to stay on top of it so it doesn’t flare up again.”

AP recalls that the 6-foot-7, 282-pound slugger returned on July 28 and wound up batting .262 with 37 home runs and 75 RBIs in 106 games.

“I keep getting hurt in right field, so I think that’s why they moved me to center field,” he said, eliciting laughs at a news conference.

“I think it’s about playing smarter,” he continued, “understanding the course, understanding the dimensions. In that case, I thought I had an extra step and I didn’t in that situation, so that always hurts me. I have to be a little bit smarter there. So, yeah, just like this year, I have to play smart. But no, I don’t think there are cement walls in center field,” he added.

Despite the injury, Judge posted impressive stats, as he finished 2023 with a .267/.406/.613/1.019 line in 106 games. He added 37 home runs and 75 RBIs during that span.