NEW YORK — Yankees star Aaron Judge will not be in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies due to an elbow injury, leaving fans and teammates relieved after tests showed he has a flexor strain but no acute damage to his ulnar collateral ligament.
Judge underwent an MRI on Saturday, which revealed the strain. This marked only his second absence from the lineup this season, in a game where the Yankees lost 9-4 to the Phillies. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection and is expected to be placed on the injured list, with hopes of returning within 10 to 14 days, initially as a designated hitter.
“You never want to go in the tube. It’s never fun. You don’t know what’s going to show up,” Judge stated, reflecting on the anxiety of undergoing the imaging.
Leading the major leagues, Judge boasts a .342 batting average and a 1.160 OPS, along with 37 home runs and 85 RBIs. Despite a strong start to the season, the Yankees have struggled recently, trailing first-place Toronto by a season-high 6.5 games.
“Overall, we got good news today,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented. He had expressed concern over Judge’s throwing ability, particularly after Judge reported difficulties during Friday’s game, a 12-5 loss to Philadelphia.
“I couldn’t throw past 60 feet,” Judge said. He emphasized his commitment to protecting his teammates, particularly against a potent Phillies lineup, which prompted his decision to avoid pushing through pain while throwing.
Boone received the MRI results just before Saturday’s game, at a time when additional evaluations were ongoing. Although Judge’s hitting remained unaffected, his throwing pain raised concerns about a potential long-term problem.
“With that strain, if you play with it, you put the UCL in jeopardy, so we need to let it heal,” Boone explained.
While discussions about bringing up highly touted prospect Spencer Jones from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre are premature, a plan is in place to fill the gap left by Judge’s absence. Giancarlo Stanton, primarily a designated hitter, will start working out in the outfield next week.
“It’s never a relief knowing he’s going to be out at all, but for what it is, I guess you could say it’s best case,” Stanton remarked.
Judge first experienced pain during the sixth inning of a game against Toronto when he made a strong throw home in a bid to prevent a tying run. Later, he winced while catching a fly ball and making a throw to second base.
“He’s about as tough as they come,” Boone remarked, acknowledging that Judge’s show of vulnerability indicated a serious issue. “That’s why you wait to react.”
The Yankees continue to face challenges as they navigate injuries and a challenging schedule. The team aims to regroup and regain momentum in the AL East while awaiting Judge’s return.
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