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3 Reasons Yankees Will Actually Benefit From Delayed Opening Day

By Brendan Balsamo

The Yankees, and Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, could really benefit from the delay of Opening Day.
The Yankees, and Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, could really benefit from the delay of Opening Day. / Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, it's always nice to look on the bright side of things and try and find positives in a world that so desperately needs some.

Make no mistake -- this international pandemic is one of the worst things the world has seen in the past century. However, as a New York Yankee fan, seeing Aaron Judge, James Paxton, Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Hicks recovering from their injuries at varying speeds is a blow that's now been softened by the delayed Opening Day.

3. Zack Britton Can Have a Comfortable Recovery

Zack Britton got hit on the wrist with a comebacker, but it looks like he might be able to come back for the beginning of the season.
Zack Britton got hit on the wrist with a comebacker, but it looks like he might be able to come back for the beginning of the season. / Mark Brown/Getty Images

In a stroke of total recent Yankee luck in batting practice on Wednesday, reliever Zack Britton was hit on the wrist with a comebacker, and after a X-Ray that saw no damage, he was still said to be questionable for Opening Day. The season's first game has now been pushed to at least April 8, and Britton can hopefully make a slow, comfortable recovery with the time the league has off. Looks like he can come back in full force, without straining.

2. James Paxton Will Barely Miss Time

James Paxton missing time was thought to have been devastating earlier this season.
James Paxton missing time was thought to have been devastating earlier this season. / Elsa/Getty Images

After the insanely huge signing of Gerrit Cole this past offseason, James Paxton was supposed to be the No. 3 in a revamped rotation. However, on Feb. 5, Paxton underwent back surgery to remove a cyst in his back. At the time, the Yankees thought they could survive without him for a few months -- and then Luis Severino went down, widening the gap. Paxton is making progress, and sees mid-May as his current return date. All things considered, Opening Day may be delayed until...around that time. Pax's timeline suddenly makes a lot more sense.

1. Get Their Full OF Back From Injury

With two Yankees stars projected to miss Opening Day, the time off could see them come back early.
With two Yankees stars projected to miss Opening Day, the time off could see them come back early. / Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton were projected to miss Yankees' Opening Day in late March. Judge is recovering from a broken rib he suffered in September last year that was just recently discovered. It seems like the Yankees are making sure his recovery is quick, though, as last word on his recovery said he was pushing his recovery aggressively. Stanton, meanwhile, has a minor calf strain that he's slowly recovering from. Perhaps it's time to cut the aggression down on Judge's comeback? As long as his body's healing properly, use the time off to your advantage, and just get him ready. It seems like both he and Stanton could be back for New York's first game -- with Aaron Hicks only about a month or so behind.