Aaron Judge is back on the injured list with a calf strain, just over a week after making his return from a rib injury that sidelined him for most of the season. The New York Yankees announced Saturday that their star slugger is headed to the 10-day IL, a brutal blow for a team trying to solidify its playoff position.
The Injury Bug Bites Again
Dude, can you believe this? Judge had already missed over three months of action after a rib injury he picked up in late May. He finally made his big comeback last Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies. But now, after only a week, he’s back on the shelf. This latest setback stems from Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, where he had to leave in the sixth inning because of right lower leg tightness. He said he felt something in the first inning and decided it was time to come out. Before he left, he went 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts, with Heliot Ramos stepping in to pinch-hit. What a grind this guy has been through. Since his return from the rib injury, Judge posted a 4-for-21 line, with a single home run and three RBI. You gotta respect his hustle, though. After getting back, he told reporters, “I get paid to do this, so I gotta go do it. That’s the end of it. I get paid to go out there and give my best to the New York Yankees and these fans. So, you get paid to win games so you gotta keep going out there and winning games.” That’s the mindset you want from your star, even if his body isn’t cooperating.
Yankees’ Playoff Push Takes a Hit
Even with Judge playing musical chairs with the IL, the Bronx Bombers have managed to keep things together. They’re sitting in a solid second place in the AL East, and get this: they already locked up a spot in the postseason earlier this week. They’re even six games up on the Boston Red Sox, looking good to snag that top wild-card spot. But let’s be real, even with a playoff ticket punched, Judge’s injury is a HUGE concern. Yankees manager Aaron Boone couldn’t even give reporters a timeline for the calf strain. When asked if Judge would be back for the postseason, Boone’s reply was a blunt “I don’t know.” Yikes. Sure, they floated without him before, but trying to make a deep World Series push without your main guy? That’s a whole different ballgame. The Yankees may have secured their playoff berth, but they’re still battling for playoff position in the AL East. They need their star slugger back in the lineup, and they need him sooner rather than later.
So, with Judge back on the 10-day IL, all eyes are on how fast he can get healthy. The Yankees are in the dance, but how far they go probably depends on whether Judge can get back on the field and dominate when it truly matters. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for the big man!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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