Aaron Judge's brief return to the Yankees lineup has come to an abrupt halt. The team announced Friday that the superstar outfielder will be placed on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain, a move that can be backdated to Thursday and would make him eligible to return for the regular-season finale on September 27.
It's the latest setback for the 34-year-old slugger, who has been plagued by injuries throughout the season. Judge has appeared in just 66 games this year — a stark contrast to his previous two seasons when he played more than 150 games each year while winning back-to-back American League MVP awards in 2024 and 2025.
The calf strain comes days after Judge made his return to action following an 83-game absence caused by a broken rib that sidelined him for more than three months. He played in the Yankees' series finale against Minnesota on Wednesday before being removed from the game in the sixth inning due to leg discomfort. Judge indicated at the time that the removal was precautionary, but the injury clearly hasn't resolved.
In the seven games since his return, Judge has managed just one extra-base hit.
The timing of this latest injury is particularly challenging for the Yankees, who continue to pursue postseason positioning. Entering Friday night's action against Arizona, New York trailed the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays by five games. While both teams have already clinched postseason berths, the Yankees are still fighting for playoff seeding.
Without Judge in the lineup, the burden falls on the rest of the roster to maintain momentum as the regular season winds down. Judge's injury history this season raises questions about his availability heading into the postseason, when every game carries heightened significance.
