NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are holding their collective breaths as they await the imaging results on star right fielder Aaron Judge’s right elbow, expected to be revealed Saturday morning. “(We’re) obviously concerned,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters, highlighting the team's unease regarding their star player's health.
Judge was notably absent from the lineup for Saturday’s critical game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium. His absence comes after he struggled with throwing balls in from the outfield during Friday night’s disappointing 12-6 home loss to the Phillies. This incident follows a moment three days prior when Judge winced after making a throw in Toronto, raising alarms among fans and teammates alike.
“Felt like we wanted to have him (out of the lineup Saturday), get the imaging, get our hands around just what exactly we’re dealing with,” Boone explained, emphasizing the team's cautious approach to Judge's injury.
Judge did not make an appearance in the Yankees’ clubhouse during the 50-minute period reporters were allowed access Saturday morning. In a telling moment, a clubhouse attendant was seen retrieving Judge’s clothes from his locker, suggesting that the star player was not in a position to meet with the media.
The first signs of pain in Judge's elbow were evident in the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game, when he tracked down a fly ball to the right field warning track with one out and a runner on second base. After making the throw back into the infield to reach the cutoff man, Judge visibly winced and clenched his fist, indicating potential discomfort. Despite the injury, he remained in the game, serving as the Yankees’ designated hitter the following day.
Although Boone reassured reporters on Wednesday that Judge was “OK,” the manager acknowledged that Judge would transition to the designated hitter role as a precaution. In a challenging game on Friday, Judge went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and managed to earn an RBI, but his overall performance was less than stellar.
The potential loss of Judge for any period could prove devastating for the Yankees. Widely regarded as one of the best players in the game, Judge entered Saturday leading the league in several key stats, including batting average (.342), on-base percentage (.449), slugging percentage (.711), and OPS (1.160). He was also tied for second in home runs with a remarkable 37.
As the Yankees gear up for the July 31 trade deadline, they were already expected to be active in the market. The team recently traded for third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies, and it seems likely they will seek additional pitching. However, no trade could truly replace what Aaron Judge brings to the field and the locker room.
“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself with that,” Boone stated. “Hopefully it’s something that’s manageable and we can get through.” The outcome of Judge's imaging and subsequent recovery will play a crucial role in the Yankees' season moving forward.
(Photo: Dale Zanine / Imagn Images)
