New York Yankees captain and star right fielder Aaron Judge has been pulled from the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies due to a right elbow “issue,” sending a wave of concern through the Yankees organization and its fanbase. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Judge underwent imaging tests on the elbow Saturday morning, with the team eagerly awaiting the results.
The discomfort in Judge’s throwing elbow first surfaced during Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, where he was seen wincing after a throw. Although he remained in that game and played as the designated hitter on Wednesday (a move Boone initially described as scheduled), the pain persisted. Judge attempted to play right field in Friday night’s 12-6 loss to the Phillies but struggled significantly with his throws, prompting the decision to hold him out of Saturday’s contest. He is scheduled to be evaluated by Dr. Christopher Ahmad, the Yankees’ head team physician and a prominent Tommy John surgeon, raising immediate concerns about a potential ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury. Boone, however, stated he did not yet know if a UCL injury was the cause of the discomfort. (ESPN)
The timing of this injury is particularly precarious for the Yankees, who have seen their performance dip, going 14-22 since June 13. This slump has caused them to fall from first place in the American League East by 4½ games to second place, now 5½ games behind the Toronto Blue Jays. Losing Judge, who is widely considered one of the best players in baseball, for any extended period would be a devastating blow to a team already struggling to maintain its early-season momentum. Boone emphasized that Judge is “irreplaceable” to the team. (The Athletic)
Judge, 33, has been having another MVP-caliber season in 2025. He currently leads Major League Baseball in batting average (.342) and OPS (1.160), while ranking second in home runs with 37. He has also accumulated 85 RBIs, 90 runs, 129 hits, 24 doubles, and 6 stolen bases. His exceptional performance has made him a front-runner for his third AL MVP award, following unanimous wins in 2022 and 2024. (MLB.com)
Beyond his 2025 statistics, Judge has consistently rewritten the record books. He holds the AL single-season home run record with 62 blasts in 2022 and is the fastest player in MLB history to reach 250, 300, and most recently, 350 career home runs, achieving the latter in just 1,088 games. He also tied Babe Ruth’s record for most home runs in his first 1,000 Yankees games with 321. His leadership was further recognized with his appointment as Yankees captain in 2023 and his selection as captain for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. (Wikipedia)
The Yankees were already expected to be active ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, having recently acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies. While they are actively pursuing pitching upgrades and a right-handed hitting infielder, the potential long-term absence of Judge could drastically alter their strategy. The hope within the organization, as expressed by Boone, is that the injury is “manageable” and that Judge can return to action without a prolonged recovery period, a sentiment echoed by anxious Yankees fans worldwide. (ESPN)
