Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ powerhouse, was absent from the lineup for the third consecutive game on Thursday. The team is currently seeking further clarity on a bone bruise in one of Judge’s right ribs, which is also causing discomfort in his right shoulder.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone shared that the team is waiting for the findings from Dr. Gregory Pearl, a vascular surgery specialist based in Dallas. Boone emphasized the need for patience, stating, “Look, it’s a lot of smart people in a specialized area and (the) guy’s several states away. We just got to be patient.”
Judge underwent a CT scan on Thursday morning, following an MRI earlier in the week. The injury was initially discovered during tests conducted on the team’s off day on Monday. Judge has a history of rib issues, having been diagnosed with a stress fracture in March 2020, which originated from a dive for a ball in September 2019.
Currently, Judge is hitting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs. Despite his recent struggles, including a 1-for-24 slump, he managed to break an 11-game homer and RBI drought with a two-run drive against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 24.
Last season, Judge secured the batting title with a career-high .331 average, 53 homers, and 114 RBIs over 152 games. He also dealt with a flexor strain in his right elbow, which sidelined him for 10 games but did not require offseason surgery.
In Judge’s absence, Giancarlo Stanton, who has been out since April 24 with a strained right calf, started taking live at-bats on Wednesday but will not join the Yankees on their upcoming road trip. José Caballero and Max Schuemann have stepped in to cover right field, with Schuemann making a notable diving catch on Thursday.
Yankees’ Lineup Adjustments
With Judge sidelined, the Yankees have had to adjust their lineup. Rookie Spencer Jones and Cody Bellinger have also seen time in right field, though Jones was sent down in late May. The team continues to navigate these challenges as they await further news on Judge’s condition.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
