TAMPA, Florida (AP) — Yankee star Aaron Judge on Tuesday dodged to respond directly about whether he is vaccinated or not because in New York City it is mandatory that every private sector employee must be inoculated against the coronavirus.
“I remain focused on being ready for the first game of the preseason,” Judge said from the team's Florida training complex. “That will be seen when the time comes. But right now, a lot can change. I don't worry about that right now.”
Like Kyrie Irving, the star of the Brooklyn Nets, unvaccinated players in the Yankees and Mets will not be able to perform at home due to the city's edict to private enterprise that went into effect on Dec. 27.
The order covers all activities of a sports team, whether indoor or outdoor. A municipality official not authorized to speak out publicly mentioned that there is still a month to go before the start of the season, too far to make a determination about what will happen while the city monitors COVID-19 cases.
In a statement, the Yankees said team president Randy Levine “is grappling with the municipality and other officials involved on this issue.”
The Yankees open their season at home against the Boston Red Sox on April 7.
Judge has been elected three times as an 'All-Star' and is a leader in the Yankees dressing room. Coming from a campaign with an average of .287 and 39 home runs, they placed fourth in the vote for the Most Valuable Player of the American League. He will be able to declare himself a free agent at the end of this campaign, but he has expressed his desire to sign long-term with New York.
Even if the New York order is lifted, the unvaccinated Yankees players would miss nine games in Toronto against the Azulejos. The Canadian government requires that an individual receive a second dose of the vaccine — or one from Johnson & Johnson — at least 14 days before admission.
The Yankees will have their first visit to Toronto for a three-game series that will begin on May 2 against their Eastern Division rivals.