Blow for the Yankees: Aaron Judge returns to the injured list
The New York Yankees face a complicated landscape in the decisive stage of the regular season. The New York team has confirmed that its captain, Aaron Judge, has been placed back on the 10-day injured list, this time due to a right calf strain.
This loss represents a significant challenge for the organization, which is immersed in an intense fight to secure its ticket to the postseason. The absence of its top star forces the coaching staff to readjust its lineup at a time when every victory is fundamental to the team’s aspirations.
A critical schedule without its captain
The injury will sideline Judge for crucial matchups, including the weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the four-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. According to initial projections, the American League MVP could be available to return to the field on September 27, the date the regular season concludes against the Baltimore Orioles, just two days before the start of the Wild Card Series.
I tried to downplay it and see how much we could endure, because these games are important in the final stretch. But after talking about it, I thought coming out was the right decision.
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees captain
The outfielder felt discomfort during the first inning of last Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins. Although he tried to stay in the game given the importance of the schedule, the coaching staff opted for caution to avoid a major complication that could compromise his participation in a potential postseason.
2026 Season Review
After his return on September 8th, Judge had played in six games, managing to hit one home run in 23 at-bats. His overall statistics for the current season reflect the impact of his absence:
- Batting average: .241
- On-base percentage (OBP): .360
- Slugging: .511
- Total: 18 home runs and 41 runs batted in (RBIs) in 66 games played.
With the team positioned five games behind Tampa Bay in the American League East at the start of Friday’s action, the Yankees must explore new offensive alternatives to maintain their winning pace while awaiting the return of their leader.
