The New York Yankees announced Friday that outfielder Aaron Judge will be placed on the 10‑day injured list (IL) because of a right calf strain. The move is expected to be back‑dated to Thursday, which means Judge could be re‑activated on September 27, the last day of the regular season.
Injury details and recent performance
Judge, the team captain and three‑time American League MVP, left the Yankees’ game against the Minnesota Twins after the sixth inning on Wednesday when he felt tightness in his lower right leg. He told reporters he first noticed the discomfort in the first inning and tried to play through it before reporting the issue to manager Aaron Boone.
The veteran slugger, 34, has been battling injuries this season. He missed more than three months after a rib injury and only returned to the lineup on September 8. Since his comeback, Judge has appeared in 66 games, posting a .241 batting average with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs. In the seven games since his last stint on the IL, he went 4‑for‑23 (.174) with one homer and three RBIs.
Impact on the Yankees’ playoff race
The Yankees (88‑64) sit five games behind the Tampa Bay Rays (93‑59) in the AL East. Both clubs hold the two best records in the American League and are slated to meet in a four‑game series in New York next week. With Judge’s absence, New York will rely on other outfield options as they finish the regular season and prepare for potential postseason play.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the team will continue to “ramp up” as the season winds down, acknowledging that injuries are a part of the grind. “Once you start ramping up, things pop up,” Judge said after his removal from the Twins game. “Hopefully, it’s just one little thing and we’re back out there soon.”
Upcoming schedule
The Yankees had Thursday off and will open a three‑game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. The team’s next roster move, related to Judge’s IL placement, will be announced shortly.
Fans can follow updates on Judge’s recovery and the Yankees’ roster adjustments through the team’s official channels and local sports coverage.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
