New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge was out of the lineup on Saturday, July 26, and will need to go on the injured list with a right ‘elbow issue.’
Manager Aaron Boone told reporters after Saturday’s 9-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies that Judge had a flexor strain but that his UCL is intact.
“With that strain, if you go out there and play with it, you put the UCL in jeopardy,’ he said. ‘We’ve got to get that healed up.’
Boone is hopeful that Judge won’t be out much longer than 10 days. Once Judge gets off the injured list, he will be a designated hitter at first. He’ll then start throwing so he can work his way back to playing in the outfield.
Judge leads the majors with a .342 average and .711 slugging percentage, ranks second with 37 home runs and 85 RBI entering Saturday and was the favorite to win his third American League MVP award.
The Yankees had a seven-game lead in the AL East on May 30 but have struggled for the past two months. After Saturday’s games, they trail the Toronto Blue Jays by 6 ½ games for the division lead.
Judge was the Yankees’ primary center fielder last season with Juan Soto in the Bronx, but he moved back to right field in 2025.
Ryan McMahon, acquired in a trade with the Colorado Rockies, made his Yankees debut starting at third base on Saturday, going 1-for-3.
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