The New York Yankees are facing renewed concerns over Aaron Judge’s fitness after the star outfielder left Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins with tightness in his lower right leg.
Judge experienced discomfort during the opening inning but initially remained in the game. After consulting manager Aaron Boone, he was removed in the sixth inning as a precaution and replaced in right field by Heliot Ramos.
The 34-year-old indicated after the game that he did not expect to undergo medical imaging and expressed hope that the problem was minor. However, the timing of the injury creates uncertainty for the Yankees as they prepare for the postseason.
Judge had only recently returned after missing 84 games because of a stress fracture in his first right rib. Wednesday’s contest was his seventh appearance since completing the lengthy recovery process.
The Yankees will be particularly cautious with their captain after such an extended absence. Although the team has already secured a playoff place, Judge’s availability and physical condition could play a major role in its chances of advancing deep into October.
Before leaving the game, Judge had struggled at the plate against Minnesota. The discomfort reportedly began following his first at-bat, but he continued playing for several innings before deciding that remaining in the game could create unnecessary risk.
Judge has appeared in 66 games this season, recording a .241 batting average with 18 home runs and 41 runs batted in. Despite the time he missed, his power and leadership remain central to the Yankees’ postseason plans.
The injury added to the disappointment of a difficult night for New York. The Yankees lost 5–4 in 13 innings after taking the lead twice during extra innings. They also failed to score after loading the bases with no outs in the 12th.
Boone and the Yankees’ medical staff are expected to monitor Judge closely before determining when he can return to the lineup. With the regular season nearing its conclusion, the club may choose to rest him rather than risk aggravating the tightness.
For now, the Yankees hope the decision to remove Judge early prevented a minor issue from becoming a more serious setback ahead of the playoffs.
