New York Yankees star Aaron Judge, the reigning American League MVP, was held out of Saturday’s lineup as the team awaited results from imaging on his right elbow. Manager Aaron Boone referred to the problem as an “elbow issue” when speaking to reporters, including Joel Sherman.
Judge showed signs of discomfort during Friday’s game against the Phillies, struggling with throws from right field. Earlier in the week, he appeared to be in pain after making a throw in Tuesday’s matchup against the Blue Jays.
Boone did not speculate on the severity of the injury, but the imaging results are expected to clarify Judge’s status. Losing Judge for an extended period would be a major setback for the Yankees, as he is once again the leading candidate for AL MVP. This season, he boasts a staggering .342/.449/.771 slash line with 37 home runs in 103 games, leading MLB in OPS, OPS+, WAR, total bases, and hits. His absence could force the Yankees to adjust their trade deadline strategy, especially after recently acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Rockies.
Despite a history of injuries over his 10-year career, Judge has been durable lately, playing 158 regular-season games in 2024 along with 14 postseason appearances during the Yankees’ pennant-winning run. Saturday marked his first missed game of the 2025 season.
The Yankees, currently 56-47 with an AL-best +99 run differential, sit 5.5 games behind the division-leading Blue Jays but hold the top AL wild-card spot.
