The news is finally here regarding Aaron Judge’s injury.
The Yankees captain has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right first rib, as announced by the team on Thursday. He will be on rest with limited activity and will undergo further imaging in about 4 to 6 weeks to assess his recovery and decide the next steps.
The team stated, “Judge is expected to return at some point this season.”
While losing the three-time American League MVP for a couple of months is significant, it might not be the worst scenario. The Yankees consulted specialists regarding vascular surgery, including potential issues like thoracic outlet syndrome, which could have required surgery before the season ends. Instead, this diagnosis provides Judge a shot at playing again this season, but in the meantime, the Yankees are left to fill a considerable gap—Judge stands at 6 feet 7 inches and weighs 282 pounds.
Judge hasn’t played since Sunday due to ongoing shoulder pain, having undergone tests on Monday, an additional MRI on Wednesday night, and a CT scan and X-rays on Thursday morning. The Yankees were anxious over the four-day wait for a definitive diagnosis, which took longer than they had hoped.
Manager Aaron Boone expressed the impact of Judge’s absence, stating, “The best hitter in the sport and obviously what he means to us is huge. There are gaps, but we have some really good players to step up.” Yet he added, “But you’re not replacing Aaron Judge.”
Although Judge’s performance this season hasn’t quite matched his past excellence, attributable perhaps to some lingering injuries, he still racked up 17 home runs and a .907 OPS across 59 games. Previously, he missed 10 games last season due to a flexor strain in his right elbow and 42 games in 2023 after injuring a ligament in his right toe during a catch attempt. However, the current injury may keep him sidelined longer, prompting the Yankees to figure out how to keep winning in his absence.
Since Judge became a regular in 2017, the Yankees’ record with him in the lineup is 652-442, while it drops to 137-127 without him.
Fortunately, the team’s depth has improved compared to previous years, increasing their chances without Judge. Ben Rice has emerged as a standout hitter, finishing Thursday with the second-highest OPS in the majors, just behind Judge. Cody Bellinger has also been a valuable player based on WAR. Veteran Paul Goldschmidt filled in effectively as Rice’s backup and played a significant role while Giancarlo Stanton was on the disabled list for over a month due to an injury.
The Yankees hope Stanton can complete his rehab from a right calf strain without setbacks. He may be ready in about 10 days to two weeks, along with Jason Dominguez, who could return next week following a shoulder injury.
Despite the potential from these players, the reality remains—none can replicate what Judge brings to the game.
“It’s a little disappointing not having the three-time MVP in our lineup,” Jazz Chisholm remarked after the 2-1 win against the Guardians. “But at the same time, we can’t use that as an excuse. We’re all baseball players, and we need to go out there and win.”
Early Thursday, the Yankees awaited feedback from Dr. Gregory Pearl, a vascular specialist who reviewed Judge’s images, hoping to rule out severe issues like thoracic outlet syndrome. Thankfully, it seems they might be in the clear for now, which is a relief considering one of the sport’s brightest stars could face a lengthy recovery.
“We’ll really miss having a player like that—not just on the field,” Ryan McMahon stated. “There are a lot of things happening leadership-wise in the clubhouse and in the dugout. But it’s our responsibility to handle it.”
