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NEW YORK – Aaron Judge anticipates joining an in-progress 2026 Yankees pennant race.
Just don’t expect to hear any target dates.
“I don’t like talking timetables,’’ said the Yankees captain on Friday, following the diagnosis of a first right rib stress fracture and his placement on the injured list.
The irreplaceable Yanks’ slugger is essentially shut down for the next four-to-six weeks, at which point he’ll be reimaged to determine how to proceed with his rehab.
“The bone will heal when it’s ready,’’ said manager Aaron Boone. “And at that point, we’re a go.’’
Whenever that time comes, the Yankees figure have their World Series aspirations intact.
“We’ve got a good club regardless, but it’s obviously not as good without Aaron Judge,’’ said GM Brian Cashman. “But it’s still good enough. Just weather the storm.’’
That storm began forming in Houston on April 26, when Judge made a self-described “awkward dive’’ in shallow right field, on a pop fly caught by second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.
“Started feeling it when I was in Texas,’’ Judge said of the next series against the Rangers, and cumulative events only worsened his condition.
“I think it happened on one play,’’ Judge said. “And throwing, hitting, diving and all that kind of adds more stress to it, makes it worse.’’
Judge also had a reference point; he suffered a stress fracture of the same rib in September 2019.
“It’s near the same spot. Kind of was feeling the (same) symptoms the past month,’’ said Judge, who “fought it as long as I could.’’
“It’s a new injury,’’ Cashman said. “But in the same area’’ as in 2019.
The breaking point came last weekend against the Athletics at Sacramento.
Judge went 2-for-12 with zero extra-base hits, making him 8-for-49 (.163) over his last 13 games with one homer and a .528 OPS since May 17.
“I just couldn’t swing the way I wanted to,’’ Judge said of a subpar May. “And Sacramento was the worst.’’
That’s when Boone approached Judge, and by Monday team athletic trainer Michael Schuk surprised Cashman with a phone call requesting an MRI for the reigning AL MVP.
Per the GM, team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad’s instinct led to further testing and the consultation of a vascular specialist before Thursday night’s diagnosis (it was originally declared a bone bruise).
“Very disappointed. Definitely not what you want to hear,’’ said Judge, though he was “just glad for an answer.’’
On Friday, Jasson Dominguez (left shoulder strain) began a minor league rehab assignment at Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and might be an option by late next week.
Giancarlo Stanton (right calf strain) is about two-to-three weeks away from returning, and lefty slugging prospect Spencer Jones was recalled Friday.
“It takes a team,’’ said Cashman. “Some are going to have to step up, some will get new opportunities to show what they’ve got.’’
In the step-up department, the Yanks have seen empty production from the Austin Wells-J.C. Escarra catching tandem and a .608 OPS from third baseman Ryan McMahon.
“They’re more than capable, they’re really good players, we do believe in them. Hopefully the best is yet to come from those positions,’’ said Cashman, adding “I’m always open-minded to ways to…make us better.’’
Cashman said that playing Dominguez in right field, a new position for him, is something they’ll talk about, and the subject of Ben Rice catching occasionally and Stanton possibly playing some outfield might be revisited at some point.
“I’m excited about what we’ve got,’’ said Judge, including “a great pitching staff’’ that could get Max Fried (bone bruise, left elbow) back before the All-Star break.
And you’d expect Judge to play the same amount of right field upon his return.
“You can’t mitigate all risks,’’ said Boone, feeling Judge has “picked his spots’’ on when to dive for liners or contend with outfield walls.
“Trying to make a play for your teammate,’’ said Judge. “That’s playing the game.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees prepared to weather storm of Aaron Judge injury
Continue reading...
Just don’t expect to hear any target dates.
“I don’t like talking timetables,’’ said the Yankees captain on Friday, following the diagnosis of a first right rib stress fracture and his placement on the injured list.
The irreplaceable Yanks’ slugger is essentially shut down for the next four-to-six weeks, at which point he’ll be reimaged to determine how to proceed with his rehab.
“The bone will heal when it’s ready,’’ said manager Aaron Boone. “And at that point, we’re a go.’’
Whenever that time comes, the Yankees figure have their World Series aspirations intact.
“We’ve got a good club regardless, but it’s obviously not as good without Aaron Judge,’’ said GM Brian Cashman. “But it’s still good enough. Just weather the storm.’’
Origin of Aaron Judge's injury
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That storm began forming in Houston on April 26, when Judge made a self-described “awkward dive’’ in shallow right field, on a pop fly caught by second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.
“Started feeling it when I was in Texas,’’ Judge said of the next series against the Rangers, and cumulative events only worsened his condition.
“I think it happened on one play,’’ Judge said. “And throwing, hitting, diving and all that kind of adds more stress to it, makes it worse.’’
Judge also had a reference point; he suffered a stress fracture of the same rib in September 2019.
“It’s near the same spot. Kind of was feeling the (same) symptoms the past month,’’ said Judge, who “fought it as long as I could.’’
“It’s a new injury,’’ Cashman said. “But in the same area’’ as in 2019.
The breaking point came last weekend against the Athletics at Sacramento.
Judge went 2-for-12 with zero extra-base hits, making him 8-for-49 (.163) over his last 13 games with one homer and a .528 OPS since May 17.
“I just couldn’t swing the way I wanted to,’’ Judge said of a subpar May. “And Sacramento was the worst.’’
That’s when Boone approached Judge, and by Monday team athletic trainer Michael Schuk surprised Cashman with a phone call requesting an MRI for the reigning AL MVP.
Per the GM, team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad’s instinct led to further testing and the consultation of a vascular specialist before Thursday night’s diagnosis (it was originally declared a bone bruise).
“Very disappointed. Definitely not what you want to hear,’’ said Judge, though he was “just glad for an answer.’’
Brian Cashman: It takes a team
On Friday, Jasson Dominguez (left shoulder strain) began a minor league rehab assignment at Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and might be an option by late next week.
Giancarlo Stanton (right calf strain) is about two-to-three weeks away from returning, and lefty slugging prospect Spencer Jones was recalled Friday.
“It takes a team,’’ said Cashman. “Some are going to have to step up, some will get new opportunities to show what they’ve got.’’
In the step-up department, the Yanks have seen empty production from the Austin Wells-J.C. Escarra catching tandem and a .608 OPS from third baseman Ryan McMahon.
“They’re more than capable, they’re really good players, we do believe in them. Hopefully the best is yet to come from those positions,’’ said Cashman, adding “I’m always open-minded to ways to…make us better.’’
Cashman said that playing Dominguez in right field, a new position for him, is something they’ll talk about, and the subject of Ben Rice catching occasionally and Stanton possibly playing some outfield might be revisited at some point.
“I’m excited about what we’ve got,’’ said Judge, including “a great pitching staff’’ that could get Max Fried (bone bruise, left elbow) back before the All-Star break.
And you’d expect Judge to play the same amount of right field upon his return.
“You can’t mitigate all risks,’’ said Boone, feeling Judge has “picked his spots’’ on when to dive for liners or contend with outfield walls.
“Trying to make a play for your teammate,’’ said Judge. “That’s playing the game.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees prepared to weather storm of Aaron Judge injury
Continue reading...
