The New York Yankees were already reeling after a pair of rough losses to the Phillies. Then Saturday delivered a gut punch that could ripple through the rest of their season: Aaron Judge is headed to the injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow.
Judge, who’s been nothing short of superhuman in 2025, missed Saturday’s 9-4 loss at Yankee Stadium — the Yankees’ third straight defeat — after playing Friday night. Before the game, manager Aaron Boone casually dropped the “elbow issue” bomb. After the game? The bomb went off.
Boone confirmed that Judge has a flexor strain, but the Yankees believe he won’t be sidelined long-term. “Less than two weeks” is the hope. The plan is to use Judge as a designated hitter when he returns, avoiding the throwing strain in the outfield.
A Monster Season Interrupted
That news doesn’t exactly calm the nerves of Yankees fans, and it’s easy to see why. Judge entered Saturday leading all of baseball with a .342 batting average, along with 37 home runs, 85 RBIs, and a 1.160 OPS. He’s been carrying this Yankees offense while still being, well, Aaron Judge — the reigning AL MVP and heartbeat of the clubhouse.
Losing him — even for 10-14 days — is a jolt. Especially when the Yankees have dropped three straight, now sit six games behind the AL East-leading Blue Jays, and are clinging to a wild-card spot in a very crowded American League.
What’s Next in the Bronx?
Without Judge in the lineup, the pressure falls squarely on the rest of the guys to produce. But even Aaron Boone knows there’s no replacing No. 99. “He’s as good as there is in the game,” Boone said. “We’ll be smart about it, but we’re optimistic it won’t be long.”
Smart or not, the clock is ticking. The trade deadline is looming. The playoff race is tightening. And for the Yankees, everything feels a little shakier without their biggest bat in the box.
