Aaron Judge is being placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday due to a right calf strain, according to the New York Yankees. This comes just two days after Judge left a game early because of discomfort in his right leg during a match against the Minnesota Twins. Judge first felt tightness while playing right field in the first inning and was replaced by a pinch hitter in the sixth.
Judge had been back playing after missing more than three months due to a stress fracture in his right rib. The Yankees announced the move on Friday evening before their game in Arizona. Though there are only ten days left in the regular season, the team can backdate the injury listing to Thursday. That would allow Judge to return on the final day of the season, September 27, though his body would need to cooperate.
The Yankees have already clinched a playoff spot and remain alive in the AL East race. They entered Friday trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by five games but have a four-game series against Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium next week. The series includes a doubleheader on September 22 followed by games on September 23 and 24.
Judge’s absence has already affected the team’s performance, as they are 41-25 when he starts and 47-39 when he doesn’t.
Manager Aaron Boone said he does not know when Judge might return or what the severity of the strain will mean for his availability. Boone used the phrase “I don’t know” while discussing Judge’s injury status and said he would not predict when Judge might return. An MRI showed the calf strain after Judge continued to have symptoms following Wednesday’s game.
Judge received treatment during Thursday’s off day before the Yankees decided to place him on the injured list. The team plans to recall utilityman Max Schuemann from Triple-A to fill Judge’s roster spot. Schuemann has appeared in 41 major league games this season and has two home runs.
Judge spoke about the problem after leaving Wednesday’s game. He said he initially tried to play through the tightness because of the importance of the games late in the season. He eventually decided that remaining in the game could hurt the Yankees on defense or on the bases.
He had previously missed time due to a rib stress fracture, returning on September 8. Judge missed 84 games before returning to right field against the Colorado Rockies. He was eased back into action and received multiple days off during his first week back.
Boone said there was no second-guessing Judge’s return plan, noting that the team had been protective during his comeback. The Yankees have also been without other key players like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Trent Grisham due to injuries. Chisholm has been dealing with a sprained right thumb while Grisham has been out with a right hamstring strain.
Cody Bellinger said the team will have to adjust if Judge misses more time. He also expressed confidence that the Yankees have enough talent to continue winning without Judge. Boone made a similar point and said the team’s expectations have not changed despite the injury.
The injury comes with just ten games left in the regular season, including a game on Friday. After the Arizona series, the Yankees will host the Rays for four games from September 22 to 24.
Judge’s calf strain is similar in nature to an injury he dealt with during the 2020 season. Judge was placed on the injured list with a right calf strain that August and later aggravated the same calf shortly after returning.
Judge is hitting .241 with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs in 66 games this season. However, his numbers since returning from the rib injury have been much weaker. Judge went 4-for-23 with one home run and 13 strikeouts in seven games after returning from the injured list.
His absence comes at an important point for the Yankees. New York has already secured a postseason berth but has not yet secured the AL East title. The club’s first playoff series could begin as early as September 29 if the Yankees play in the Wild Card round.
The Yankees have had to adjust their lineup and strategy this season due to injuries.
IMAGE: Aaron Judge. Photo: Arturo Pardavila on Flickr (Original version) UCinternational (Crop) / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0