Yankees' Aaron Judge gives his take on NYC vaccine mandate being relaxed
TAMPA, Fla. – Yankees slugger Aaron Judge’s initial thought about New York City’s COVID vaccine mandate being amended was about Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving.
“I’m happy Kyrie can play some home games,’’ Judge said Wednesday night.
New York City mayor Eric Adams is planning Thursday to announce a rollback of the private sector vaccine mandate for pro athletes and performers, a person familiar with the situation told Paste BN Sports.
The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the mayor’s plans.
Irving, who is unvaccinated, has not been able to play games at Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden due to the mandate.
And the same situation would have applied to unvaccinated Yankees and Mets players at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, prior to the mayor’s revision.
Judge, who missed some time last season due to COVID, has not been specific about his vaccination status.
Asked if there had been concern about a vaccine mandate affecting the start of the Yankees’ season, Judge said: “Not really,’’ and echoed a previous take about the subject.
“Kind of told you guys, I wasn’t too worried about it,’’ Judge said. “And I’ve got a lot of things to do here at the field.
“So, if the mandate’s not there, then I guess it’s good for Kyrie – he can play some home games and help the Nets out a little bit.’’
After Wednesday night’s 7-1 exhibition game win over the Baltimore Orioles, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he had no comment “on any speculation’’ about the mandate being relaxed.
“Hopefully, it’s not an issue for us,’’ said Boone.
Over the past two weeks, Yankees president Randy Levine has been communicating with the mayor’s office on the matter.