BRONX, NY — Aaron Judge’s 17 home runs and 38 RBI in 2026 would be a great start to a season for 99 percent of players in Major League Baseball, but for the captain of the New York Yankees, hitting at a historic rate year on year, it’s been a slow beginning. With a batting average of .248 and an OPS of .907 across 214 at-bats, this would mark the three-time American League MVP’s lowest OPS at season’s end since the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic shortened season.
And that year, Judge only played in 28 of 60 games.
With Aaron Judge dealing with a rib injury, the 34-year-old superstar and the Yankees are hoping it’s a day-to-day situation – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Earlier in the week, ahead of the Guardians and Yankees opening up a three-game set in the Bronx, manager Aaron Boone told the media that Judge was dealing with a bone bruise in his upper right rib, which has also impacted his shoulder. Boone called it “nagging” and admitted that the 34-year-old superstar had been dealing with it for a couple of weeks, but last weekend in Sacramento, it “became a little more significant.”
There was still no update Tuesday night after the Yankees’ 9-4 loss to Cleveland and same goes before Wednesday evening’s middle game of the series. However, Judge, not in the lineup for two consecutive games, was expected to see a specialist sometime Wednesday and have a consultation with team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad.
“Hopefully it’s a day-to-day situation,” Boone said before the game. “Could be a few days, could be longer. I don’t know for sure. It’s kind of based on how he’s feeling day-by-day. Hopefully we avoided something serious, but we’ll have an idea more when he meets with the doctor, and then as the next couple days unfold.”
Three time American League MVP Aaron Judge had played in each of the Yankees’ first 59 games of 2026 before Tuesday and Wednesday night – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
It’s possible that an announcement of him being placed on the injured list comes later tonight or within the next few days.
Options to replace him are Spencer Jones, who was dubbed the left-handed version Judge at certain points in time, and 2025 AL LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year Jasson Domínguez.
Jones had a small sample size of 10 games with the Yankees last month, recording four hits with two RBI and a stolen base. The rookie spoke with Latino Sports prior to the Subway Series in Queens last month about what he had learned in his brief time so far in the Show.
“I mean, you gotta make adjustments,” the 25-year-old noted. “That’s what baseball is, and I think I’ve been around a lot of good people to help me make those adjustments. It’s a good clubhouse and, yeah, gonna keep it rolling.”
Jones was sent back down to Triple-A Scranton on May 22nd, a level he’s put up monster numbers in, compiling 13 home runs, 47 RBIs, and nine stolen bases at Triple-A this season with an OPS of .961.
The 23-year-old Dominican Domínguez, one home run in 30 MLB at-bats this year, took batting practice yesterday, and could begin a rehab assignment as soon as Friday per Boone. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, three home runs, 14 RBIS, and an OPS of .724 in 90 at-bats this season, also ran in the outfield Tuesday and took live BP Wednesday.
These reinforcements may be able to help stomach the blow of potentially losing Judge, but they won’t replace his production as a whole, especially if he misses one-two months or more.
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