Yankees eagerly await Aaron Judge’s return from his undisclosed injury

BOSTON — Aaron Judge’s Status Remains Uncertain

As of now, the New York Yankees haven’t scheduled any imaging tests for Aaron Judge’s fractured right rib. This leaves the team in the dark about when their star player might make a return, as noted by manager Aaron Boone.

Over the weekend, the Yankees struggled offensively, failing to register a hit until at least the fifth inning in three straight games. In a particularly tough matchup on Sunday, they lost 5-4 in the 10th inning, with their first hit against former Yankee Sonny Gray coming only in the eighth inning.

Boone characterized the weekend as “terrible,” especially highlighting the poor performance on Sunday. He admitted, “Overall, I just didn’t swing my bat very well this weekend. There were some pitches that I needed to hit, and I just missed a few things.”

It’s clear that without Judge, the Yankees lose a significant edge. Boone acknowledged, “Certainly having Aaron Judge in the lineup is going to make a huge difference to our team.” They managed to score just five runs across the first three games of the series, unable to capitalize until the top of the ninth on Sunday when Boston’s defense faltered.

Strikingly, the team’s performance in clutch situations has been disappointing. Since June 18, they’ve seen a paltry 7-for-72 record with runners in scoring position, which certainly raises eyebrows. Hitting coach James Rowson remarked on Boston’s pitching, saying, “Give them credit. They threw the ball well. It was a tough few games. But overall, I’m happy with the players on our team and I trust them.”

In terms of personal contributions, first baseman Ben Rice had an impressive 1.056 OPS in 54 games before Judge’s injury but has dropped to a .686 OPS in the 23 games since, including a hitless Sunday.

Boone noted that while Rice performed well in at-bats not featuring Judge, he seemed to struggle recently. The combined absence of Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Trent Grisham has contributed to a slump, with the team’s overall performances diminishing.

“We’re working on the injury side little by little,” Boone said. “But it gives us an opportunity to find out more about our players’ depth and who might step up in the future.”

Rice will likely continue to play a critical role as the Yankees navigate the rest of the season, even without Judge. Rowson added, “No one presses us, including Ben. The players have stepped up without Judge and can handle stretches like this.”

This situation certainly serves as a test for Rice, who had been making a case for the American League MVP alongside Judge. The last few weeks have highlighted just how vital Judge is to the team’s offensive success.

On a positive note, Boone mentioned that Judge has been undergoing upper body training, although what that precisely entails remains unclear. As of Sunday, it has been four weeks since Judge last played, during which the Yankees have gone 12-12. While they’ve lead the league in home runs, they rank 19th in runs scored and 22nd in OPS since June 1.