Judge’s Health Casts Shadow Over Yankees
Team awaits answers on reigning MVP while reinforcements near return
NEW YORK—Is it doomsday? Just as it looked like the Yankees were turning some fortunes around after a 5-1 road trip with an offensive explosion, Tuesday’s lineup comes out missing the biggest key for the Yankees in recent seasons, their captain, Aaron Judge.
The Judge Injury
Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced pregame that Judge has been “dealing with some shoulder soreness” (the right clavicle area) for a few weeks. The team later clarified that Judge has a right rib bone bruise, and he’s feeling the pain through his shoulder. Boone added that the symptoms were progressing over the weekend in West Sacramento, where Judge went 2-12 with two walks and was removed from Sunday’s blowout win early.
Judge will meet today with team doctors to determine whether this will be an IL stint or a day-to-day issue. Judge struggled for most of the month of May, and an injury like this could be the culprit. The Yankees should hope that a few days of rest, even a 10-day IL stint, should do the trick and hopefully avoid further issue.
"Could be a few days, could be longer. I don't know for sure.” Said Boone. “It's kind of based on how he's feeling day-by-day, but hopefully we avoided something serious.”
Other Injury Updates
Giancarlo Stanton will face live pitching tomorrow. He was seen doing running drills at Yankee Stadium, progressing in his rehab. Stanton may be able to be activated without a rehab assignment, but hitting is the first step.
Jasson Dominguez could begin a rehab assignment on his shoulder injury Friday.
Max Fried has increased his throwing from 75 feet, increasing the intensity, and Boone told NYDN that Fried is responding well. He will meet with doctors today to see if he can continue ramping up.