Aaron Judge’s Injury Status Ahead of AL Wild Card Series

As anticipation builds around whether New York Yankees star Aaron Judge, a three-time MVP, will play in the upcoming AL Wild Card series, the outfielder himself seems fairly calm about it. He mentioned in an interview, “That’s what the plan is. Try to get my body ready so I’m ready to go.”

Judge aims to be fit for the first game of the Wild Card series, which will kick off at Yankee Stadium next Tuesday against yet-to-be-determined rivals from the American League.

Recently, Judge was placed on the injured list after suffering a right calf strain, raising concerns given the postseason is just around the corner. He clarified that it’s a soleus muscle strain, which he pointed out is crucial for running and hitting—both skills the Yankees desperately need to advance in the playoffs.

He confirmed he received a Platelet-Poor Plasma injection for his calf, and he and the team are currently awaiting clearance to resume baseball activities relating to his injury.

While Judge remains optimistic, Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed a more cautious perspective on Tuesday. He stated, “We’re planning on him not being a part of that,” referring to the Wild Card series, although he hasn’t officially ruled out Judge. There’s still time for the Yankees to finalize their roster.

However, if Judge is not part of the Wild Card roster, he wouldn’t be able to participate until the Yankees progress to the ALDS, dependent on their success in the best-of-three series.

Judge also mentioned having discussions with decision-makers within the organization but chose not to share specifics. “I can’t control what people say,” he explained. “So, you’ll have to talk to them about that.”

This injury follows his recent return from a fractured rib that had sidelined him for three months. Although this strain isn’t as severe, it’s problematic, especially since the Yankees are hoping for him to be fully fit.

Since coming back, Judge has struggled somewhat at the plate; his stats show he’s gone 4-for-23 with just one home run and 13 strikeouts in 24 appearances—definitely not his usual performance right after he was declared healthy enough to play.

“We’ve got games to win,” Judge remarked. “I’m getting paid to play games for the New York Yankees, so I’ll get back as soon as I can.”

The Yankees could possibly face several teams in the Wild Card series, but a likely matchup seems to be a rematch against the Boston Red Sox from 2025.