The New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-1 on Thursday, but the day itself felt like a loss for the team.
Hours after outfielder Aaron Judge was ruled out for the third straight game, it was revealed that the three-time MVP suffered a stress fracture in his right rib. While it’s unclear what specifically caused the injury, Judge will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, with the team targeting a post-All-Star break return for their 34-year-old superstar.
Before missing the past two games, Judge had played in every game of the 2026 season. In 59 contests, he hit .248 with a .907 OPS. While still respectful, those numbers are considerably lower than his career averages of .291 and 1.022, especially considering Judge hit .331 last season to claim his first American League batting title.
Despite his batting average and OPS being down, Judge still has the fifth-most home runs in baseball, proving his power remains elite. With 385 career home runs to his name, he remains 15 shy of reaching a mark only 59 players in the game’s history have ever reached.
A Reoccurring Theme
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Throughout his illustrious career, Judge has repeatedly struggled with injuries. In 2016, Judge’s first big league season ended abruptly due to an oblique strain. He played in all but seven games the ensuing season but underwent left shoulder surgery in the offseason. In 2018, Judge missed nearly two months with a fractured wrist. He missed another two months the following season, this time due to an oblique strain. Despite a shortened 2020 season, Judge missed 32 games due to a calf strain. He bounced back with two injury-free seasons in 2021 and 2022, playing 148 and 157 games, respectively.
In 2023, Judge suffered a hip strain in May and missed 10 games. He remained healthy for nearly a month before injuring his toe while making a diving catch at Dodger Stadium. In total, he missed 56 games that season.
How the Yankees Pivot
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Early Friday morning, the Yankees recalled outfielder Spencer Jones from Triple-A. This move isn’t surprising, especially considering the lack of outfield depth the Yankees have on their roster. Outfielder Jasson Dominguez has missed nearly a month due to a shoulder injury, while Giancarlo Stanton hasn’t played in six weeks due to a hamstring issue.
Infielders Jose Caballero and Max Schuemann are also candidates to play the outfield. Caballero has played two games at each corner outfield spot this season, while Schuemman, primarily a middle infielder, has made 11 appearances in the outfield this season.
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