Aaron Judge could miss the rest of the regular season after the New York Yankees revealed their superstar slugger is going on the 10-day injured list because of a right calf strain.
The three-time AL MVP was removed for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s 5-4 loss against the Minnesota Twins because of the discomfort in his leg.
At the time, Judge said it was a precautionary move. But he now faces yet more injury woe, with manager Aaron Boone unsure how long Judge will be sidelined.
The 34-year-old only returned last week from a broken rib, which kept him out of the lineup for more than three months.
The Yankees announced it will make the roster move on Saturday but the placement could be backdated to Thursday, meaning it is possible Judge could return for New York’s regular-season finale on September 27.
But Boone admitted he ‘does not know’ if that will happen.
Yankees star Aaron Judge is going on the 10-day injured list because of a right calf strain
The 34-year-old only returned last week from a broken rib which kept him out for months
‘I don’t have a timeline on him. He’s on the IL now. I’m not going to predict anything. He’s getting treated, and we’ll see what transpires.’
Boone added: ‘There’s no replacing a player like Aaron Judge, but we have high expectations that don’t change… the reality is we’ve had to play a lot of this year without him.’
The Yankees’ three-time All-Star Cody Bellinger said it ‘hurts’ to lose the ‘best hitter in the game.’
‘But for us in here, the mindset is that we’re going to have to find a way,’ Bellinger added.
‘I think the talent in this locker room speaks for itself, and I’m fully confident that we have enough talent in here to go out and beat anybody.’
New York has already secured a spot in the playoffs spot but Boone’s team headed into Friday’s clash with the Diamondbacks five games behind AL East leaders the Tampa Bay Rays.
