Harrison Bader begins a rehab assignment in Double-A on Friday, as the Gold Glove center fielder inches closer to making his season debut with the Yankees.
But, when Bader does return, would it be best for the team if he played a different position? BT raised the question during Friday’s show, saying there is an argument for Aaron Judge to remain in center field.
“When you present it from a pure baseball point of view, like who is better, I think there is a debate to be had,” BT said.
“The reason why it’s a baseball conversation, you can make the case that, because of the ground he covers with his long strides and his speed, as great as Bader is, you can make the case, and with his arm strength, that Judge could be slightly better.”
Judge has impressively handled extensive center field duties since the 2021 season, and his defense was on display in center on Wednesday night, when he robbed Shohei Ohtani of a home run and made a diving catch to his left later in the game, saving a run. Still, Bader is one of the top defensive center fielders in the league, which was part of why the Yanks coveted him, and not playing him in center field would be negligent on the part of the Yanks.
While BT thinks there is a debate, he also doesn’t want Judge in center on a regular basis.
“But I don’t want Judge in center,” BT said. “I don’t want him diving gap to gap. Stick him in right field, keep him healthy.”
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