New York – Yankees slugger Aaron Judge’s postseason hopes took a hit on Tuesday when the team confirmed he received a platelet‑poor plasma injection in his sore right calf. The treatment followed a 10‑day injured‑list stint that began Saturday after doctors diagnosed a strained soleus muscle, a lower‑calf injury that Boone described as “moderate.”
Injury details and treatment
Judge was placed on the injured list after the team’s doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays. Boone explained that the injection was administered on Monday, the day after the Yankees returned from a spring‑training trip to Arizona. “We’re planning on him not being a part of that but we’re also at a time of the year, you hear all the time with injuries, you give ranges two to four weeks, four to six weeks,” Boone said. “The range is for a reason and we’re at a point of the year where obviously we push it a little bit if that was in play but that’s a week away. I’m not expecting it, but I’m not ruling it out either.”
Recent performance and impact
Since returning from a broken rib on September 8, Judge has posted a .241 batting average with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs in 66 games. He recorded a long homer on September 14 in Minnesota before straining his calf the following night. In the seven games after his rib injury, Judge went 4‑for‑23 with 13 strikeouts and one extra‑base hit.
The Yankees have performed well in Judge’s absence, posting a 48‑41 record in games he missed and a 41‑25 mark when he is in the lineup. Boone emphasized the team’s confidence: “We’ve played much of the year without him and for the most part, we’ve done a pretty good job. So guys are used to it. Obviously you always want your best player in the mix, but we understand we’ve got a job to do and an expectation to win. I think that expectation doesn’t change with or without him. We’re expecting to go into the series and know we can beat anyone when we play our game.”
Looking ahead
Judge remains eligible for activation for the regular‑season finale against Baltimore on Sunday, but Boone indicated the veteran will likely see limited action in the next few days. The Yankees are set to face the Boston Red Sox in a wild‑card series next week, a matchup that could determine their path to the American League Championship Series.
While the injection offers a chance for accelerated healing, the team will continue to monitor Judge’s progress closely. Fans and analysts will be watching the upcoming games to gauge whether the Yankees can maintain their momentum with or without their eight‑time All‑Star.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
