Aaron Judge gave New York Yankees fans a scare this week after suffering an apparent injury during Tuesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The star slugger collided with the outfield wall in the fifth inning while chasing a deep fly ball, immediately grabbing his wrist and prompting medical staff to rush to his aid. Although Aaron Judge’s injury looked concerning in real time, initial evaluations have ruled out any fractures, and the team has listed him as day-to-day.
The injury comes at a critical time for the Yankees, who are fighting to maintain their lead in the AL East. Judge, widely considered the heart of the team’s offense, has been red-hot at the plate this season, leading the league in home runs and RBIs. The 32-year-old outfielder has been instrumental in the Yankees’ recent winning streak, and any prolonged absence could significantly impact their playoff momentum.
Following the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone addressed the media, saying, “Aaron Judge is tough as nails. He’s sore, but thankfully nothing’s broken. We’ll monitor him closely over the next few days.” Judge, who spoke briefly to reporters, said he felt “relieved” the injury wasn’t more serious and hoped to be back “sooner than later.” Still, the team is expected to rest him for at least the remainder of the series as a precaution.
This isn’t the first time Aaron Judge has dealt with injury setbacks. Last season, he missed several weeks due to a toe injury sustained in a similar outfield collision. Given his importance to the lineup and his injury history, the Yankees are expected to proceed cautiously.
As fans await further updates, the Yankees are evaluating outfield options and considering potential roster adjustments. The hope remains that Aaron Judge’s injury proves to be a short-term issue rather than a season-altering blow. With the postseason approaching, the Yankees will need their captain healthy and swinging to keep their World Series hopes alive.