New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge will miss the entirety of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays due to a right calf strain and insufficient recovery progress, worldjournal.com reported. Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the roster decision hours before the series opener at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, opting to keep the star outfielder sidelined as the team plays a best-of-five postseason schedule.
Sidelined Slugger Misses Tampa Bay Showdown
The absence of the three-time Most Valuable Player leaves a noticeable void in the Yankees’ lineup as they face the top-seeded Rays in Florida. Judge sustained the right calf strain on Sept. 16 during a game against the Minnesota Twins and subsequently missed the final two games of the regular-season series against the Boston Red Sox. While he traveled with the team to the Tampa area, his limited running mobility and lack of recent game conditioning forced coaching staff to hold him out of the Division Series entirely.
Boone explained the timing of the decision ahead of the series opener, noting that the artificial turf surface at the Rays’ home venue could potentially exacerbate lower-body injuries. The five-game divisional format buys the organization an estimated five to seven days of recovery window, giving medical staff additional time to build back the outfielder’s stamina without forcing a premature return.
Aaron Boone outlines Judge's need to build endurance
Manager Aaron Boone outlined the physical hurdles facing the eight-time All-Star during media availability prior to the series. Iだと思う (Judge is) getting close, but in order for us to see him at his best and be able to win a World Series, I feel like this week is vital for him to continue to work and build up,
Boone stated, adding that the player had only recently begun running and taking light batting practice.
Boone emphasized that building endurance remains the primary obstacle for a player who has missed extended stretches. Endurance is important for him to be able to play a three-hour game. I mean, he hasn’t done much for several weeks, and that’s the challenge of it all,
Boone said. The calf injury compounded an already interrupted campaign for Judge, who earlier missed time due to a rib fracture. His regular-season output was limited to 66 games, yielding a .241 batting average, .360 on-base percentage, and .511 slugging percentage alongside 18 home runs and 41 RBIs—marking his lowest single-season appearance total since his 2016 rookie year, excluding the shortened 2020 pandemic campaign.
Should the Yankees overcome the division champions and advance past the opening round, Judge could potentially return for the American League Championship Series against the winner of the matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judge’s Injury Status
Why is Aaron Judge missing the division series against the Rays?
Judge is sidelined due to a right calf strain sustained on Sept. 16 against the Minnesota Twins, compounded by a lack of stamina and conditioning after weeks of limited activity.
When did Yankees manager Aaron Boone make the final roster decision?
Boone announced the decision hours before the opening game of the best-of-five series at the venue in Tampa, Florida.
What are Aaron Judge’s statistics from the regular season?
In 66 games, Judge posted a .241 batting average, .360 on-base percentage, and .511 slugging percentage with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs.
When could Aaron Judge potentially return to the lineup?
If the Yankees defeat the Tampa Bay Rays to advance past the Division Series, team leadership anticipates Judge could be ready to return during the American League Championship Series.
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