Aaron Judge finds silver lining to Yankees bleak injury situation

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees from spring training TAMPA — Aaron Judge is “hoping and praying” for the best for Gerrit Cole and has found the silver lining of a bleak Yankees camp: It is spring training and not yet even the middle of March.The team captain held a brief state-of-the-Yankees address Sunday in front of his locker, where he expressed plenty of confidence in the club, even if he is among the relatively few stars still standing.Giancarlo Stanton cannot swing a bat and needs a third round of PRP injections in his elbows.Luis Gil is out for months with a strained lat.DJ LeMahieu’s calf ached after two at-bats.JT Brubaker fractured three ribs.Top prospect Chase Hampton required Tommy John surgery.Among the dented in the bullpen are Jake Cousins, Scott Effross, Tyler Matzek and Clayton Beeter.But the largest worry by a wide margin surrounds Cole, whose elbow has barked for a second consecutive spring.

There is real concern that this time, Cole may not be able to avoid going under the knife.As Judge was leaving the team’s facility Saturday, he crossed paths with an arriving Cole in the parking lot.The two talked for about 20 minutes in a discussion Judge wanted to keep private.“He’s a tough guy.

We’ll see what happens,” Judge said Sunday after a workout.“And what he gets advised to do and what he wants to do.“But I’m always hoping and praying for the best, man.

He’s a big part of this team.He’s the ace — he’s the one that’s going to lead us and lead this pitching staff.

So let’s see — hopefully good news.”It is possible the team has lost its workhorse and rotation leader several weeks before the season has even begun — and Judge wanted to remind that the season has not yet begun.Spring training has seen an onslaught of injuries, but “if there’s any time for something to happen, I think it’s better...