The Waiting Game for the Yankees Continues
As Wednesday night unfolds, fans find themselves on edge, with uncertainty looming over the Yankees, particularly concerning Aaron Judge’s condition. Still grappling with a bone contusion near his right ribcage, it’s clear that he won’t be in the lineup for a second consecutive night.
Judge last took the field on Sunday. Following that, he underwent imaging tests on Monday—a day off for the team—then consulted with the team physician, Dr. Christopher Ahmad, on Tuesday and saw a specialist on Wednesday. By the time manager Aaron Boone addressed reporters before the game, experts were still analyzing images, leaving Boone without the clarity he had hoped for.
In the meantime, Judge has been relegated to strength training and treatments while awaiting updates on his status. It’s hard to predict how this will unfold; it could be that he avoids the injured list altogether or faces a short stint, or—worst-case scenario—something more serious that could disrupt the Yankees’ promising start.
While Judge remains sidelined, the Yankees have reshuffled their batting order, bringing in José Caballero as the right fielder and shifting Ben Rice to a more prominent role in the batting lineup.
When questioned about how long they could manage without Judge before pursuing a trade, Boone expressed uncertainty. “It probably depends on the doctor’s diagnosis and confirmation of his condition,” he mentioned regarding the days ahead.
Caballero, who hasn’t seen action since September until the recent opener, had to step up again. Despite being a utility man, Boone has confidence in his versatility. Rice, now in his second full MLB season, has become a key component, demonstrating his ability to adapt against various pitchers without feeling the pressure from the on-deck circle. By this point, he had an impressive streak of multiple reach-base games, hitting .500 with 11 RBIs over those appearances.
Boone acknowledged that Rice isn’t expected to change his approach significantly. “He’s one of the best players in the league. He doesn’t need to do anything more than that right now,” he said, indicating that Rice simply needs to maintain his current performance level.
Initially, both Boone and the Yankees held out hope that Judge’s absence would be short-lived. After all, previous injuries had taken a toll on him; he missed 10 games last July due to a right elbow flexor injury and was sidelined for over a month in 2023 because of a torn ligament in his right toe.
Yet, Judge’s recent performance has raised concerns. His batting average, previously soaring, has taken a hit, with just 17 hits in 82 at-bats—leading to a .207 average and 26 strikeouts in his last 22 games. Since May 11, he’s managed just six extra-base hits and a single home run. Alarmingly, he even went through an 11-game stretch last month without a hit.
This downturn has made some people wonder if a lingering injury is partly responsible for his struggles. Boone noted, “I think there’s some correlation,” referring to the injury potentially exacerbating Judge’s performance issues.
Reflecting on Judge’s approach to injuries, Boone commented on his skill and tenacity in overcoming challenges week after week. “He takes a lot of pride in his durability,” Boone remarked, emphasizing how Judge’s early-career struggles with injuries shaped his determination to play consistently.
Boone expressed a belief that the Yankees might be better suited to cope with Judge’s absence than they have been in previous seasons. However, Wednesday’s events left them grappling to establish how they would function without him, regardless of how long he might be out.
