New York Yankees star Aaron Judge missed the lineup against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday due to an elbow injury. Following the team’s 9-4 defeat, manager Aaron Boone disclosed that the Yankees plan to monitor Judge’s recovery closely as he deals with a flexor strain. Boone mentioned that Judge will likely need a stint on the injured list for about 10 days to begin throwing again and hopes the outfielder will return to the field soon if symptoms improve. Boone did not clarify whether the injury involved Judge’s ulnar collateral ligament.
Judge, a two-time American League MVP, is leading Major League Baseball with a .342 batting average and a 1.160 OPS, along with 37 home runs and 85 RBIs. Despite the Yankees opening a seven-game lead in the AL East by late May, Judge’s injury comes at a crucial time. The injury occurred during a play on Tuesday in Toronto when Judge caught a fly ball but appeared to hurt his right hand after making a throw. Boone shared that Judge was designated to bat after the series finale on Wednesday but was sidelined after the team’s 12-5 loss to Philadelphia on Friday. Boone also noted Judge had trouble throwing from the outfield the night before the announcement. Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad was expected to review Judge’s imaging on Saturday.
—the Associated Press contributed to this report—
Fan Take: Aaron Judge is a cornerstone of the Yankees and one of baseball’s brightest stars, so his injury is a major concern for both the team and fans. His absence could impact the Yankees’ dominance in the AL East and serves as a reminder of how crucial player health is to maintaining competitive balance in baseball.
