The New York Yankees have struggled to find their footing since losing captain Aaron Judge to a stress fracture in the first rib on his right side. At the time of his injury, the club owned a strong 36-23 record. Since then, the Yankees have gone 48-38, and their latest stretch has been especially painful, including a seven-game losing streak that continued with Wednesday’s home loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Before Wednesday’s game, Judge met with reporters at his locker and addressed the team’s recent slide, emphasizing accountability and focus.
“It’s not great,” Judge admitted. “Just a little lack of focus. We just gotta dial it in. Our ultimate goal is to win a World Series. I think guys have to remember that every single day they show up here. We’re here to win a World Series. That should motivate you every single day you step on that field, no matter what happens, no matter what happens the day before.”
Aaron Judge Calls for Accountability
Judge pointed to a reminder that players see every time they head onto the field. “We’ve got an important sign when you walk out on the field,” he said. “It’s the last sign you see before you’re out there; it says do your job. Guys are here to do their job.”
His comments come as the Yankees continue to wait for positive news on his recovery. Manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Judge is still “probably a couple weeks” away from undergoing another round of imaging, leaving open the possibility that the slugger may not return before September.
Yankees Continue to Search for Answers
The numbers help explain why the Yankees have fallen into such a difficult stretch. According to reports, the club committed enough defensive mistakes to allow 14 unearned runs during what became a six-game losing streak before Wednesday. Offensively, the lineup has also sputtered, producing only 23 hits over its previous six games entering Wednesday afternoon.
After Tuesday’s 9-3 defeat to Detroit, shortstop Anthony Volpe acknowledged that players have been pressing at the plate. Judge agreed with that assessment and offered his perspective on why the offense has struggled.
“I feel like right now, collectively, guys are trying to do too much and be the one guy that will hit the grand slam with nobody on,” Judge said. “At times when we’re scuffling, we don’t trust ourselves. We don’t trust that maybe the guy behind me will help me out.”
Judge explained that confidence in the lineup should relieve pressure on individual hitters. Using his own approach as an example, he pointed to teammates Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, who were batting behind him.
“I’m gonna go out there and just focus on what I got to do at the plate,” Judge said. “If I don’t get it done, the guy behind me will. That takes a lot of pressure off you when you’re in the box and scuffling a little bit. They’re gonna be fine, though.”
No Timeline for Judge’s Return
While Judge expressed confidence in his teammates, he also admitted that watching from the sidelines has been one of the hardest parts of his injury.
“It’s the worst,” Judge said. “That’s one thing that always kills me throughout the year. I hate missing games, but I hate missing them in times where things aren’t going your way. That’s when I want to be out there. I want to be grinding with the guys and be a part of the solution to get us back to where we need to be.”
For now, the Yankees remain without their captain and without a firm timetable for his return. The front office is expected to explore additions before the August 3 MLB trade deadline, but league-wide expectations are that major moves will likely wait until after the second half of the season begins on July 17. Until then, New York’s current roster will have to reverse its slide without the player who has been its most important presence both on the field and in the clubhouse.
