Aaron Judge Moves to 60-Day Injured List
Aaron Judge has officially been placed on the 60-day injured list, but this mainly serves as a procedural step to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
This action also underscores just how much time he will be away from the field, given that he has been out since late May with a fractured right rib.
Despite undergoing some tests on Wednesday, which showed some healing, Judge still isn’t cleared to participate in any baseball activities.
Manager Aaron Boone mentioned that Dr. Gregory Pearl, the specialist who first evaluated Judge, confirmed there are still restrictions. Boone also noted that for Judge to resume upper-body training, he must be “asymptomatic.”
The timeline for his return remains uncertain, though Boone expressed some cautious optimism, indicating that Judge’s pain has shifted from “sharp” to a “more dull” sensation.
This situation leaves the Yankees in a tough spot, as they might have to go several more weeks without him. Some speculate that Judge may not return until September, which raises concerns about whether he can perform at his peak upon his return.
In Judge’s absence, the Yankees have struggled, going 18-20 since his injury after starting the season 36-23.
This situation is reminiscent of 2023, when the Yankees failed to make the playoffs, largely due to Judge’s absence after he suffered a toe injury from crashing into a wall.
Boone commented that this roster has more depth than it had three years ago; however, other than a strong stretch in late June and early July where the team won nine of ten, their performance has been, well, inconsistent.
Certain cracks in the team were evident in their first game post-All-Star break, where they managed just one run in a loss to the Dodgers.
Since Judge’s last game on May 31, Trent Grisham has stepped up with an impressive .894 OPS during his absence, though he too faces challenges with a hamstring strain from about a month ago.
Grisham’s struggles were visible recently when he was called out at home plate trying to score on a double. Meanwhile, Ben Rice, while not exactly an MVP candidate, has still managed an .864 OPS without Judge.
One notable player, Paul Goldschmidt, has been underperforming when expectations were high with Judge and Giancarlo Stanton sidelined, although his .758 OPS isn’t considered a major issue.
Jasson Dominguez hasn’t solidified a regular spot despite the team’s recent struggles, but he does present some offensive potential.
The Yankees’ struggles at the plate seem to stem from Cody Bellinger, who had a robust .855 OPS before Judge’s injury but has dipped to .622 since. His initial surge post-Judge has faltered considerably, reflected in his recent batting average.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. also started strong but has seen his OPS drop significantly since mid-June, and Jose Caballero’s performance has mirrored this decline.
At third base, Ryan McMahon has been improving, but Amed Rosario’s numbers have cratered post-injury. As for Austin Wells, he’s having a dreadful season, struggling to find any rhythm at the plate and causing the team to consider options for a new catcher.
