Aaron Judge Out of Yankees Lineup vs. Phillies Due to Elbow Injury – Latest Updates

New York, NY – New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge was a late scratch from Saturday’s lineup against the Philadelphia Phillies due to a concerning elbow injury. Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed that Judge is dealing with a right elbow “issue” and underwent medical testing to determine the severity.

Aaron Judge’s Elbow Injury: What We Know So Far

Judge, the Yankees’ captain and two-time AL MVP, first experienced discomfort in his right elbow during a throw in Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. He served as the designated hitter on Wednesday before returning to right field on Friday. However, after struggling with throws in Friday night’s loss, the Yankees decided to hold him out of Saturday’s game for further evaluation.

Boone confirmed that Judge underwent imaging tests Saturday morning and was set to meet with Dr. Christopher Ahmad, the Yankees’ head team physician and a renowned Tommy John surgery specialist. When asked if Judge could be facing a UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) injury, Boone said, “I don’t know.”

“He couldn’t really get the ball in very well,” Boone explained. “So, we felt like we wanted to have him down and get the imaging, get our hands around just what exactly we’re dealing with.”

How Aaron Judge’s Absence Impacts the Yankees

Judge, 33, is having another MVP-caliber season, leading the majors in batting average (.342) and OPS (1.160) while ranking second with 37 home runs. His absence would be a massive blow to a Yankees team that has struggled since mid-June, going 14-22 and falling 5.5 games behind the AL East-leading Blue Jays.

If Judge is sidelined long-term, it could force Yankees general manager Brian Cashman to adjust his approach before the July 30 trade deadline. The Yankees have already made one move, acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday. However, replacing Judge’s production would be nearly impossible.

Could Aaron Judge Need Tommy John Surgery?

The biggest concern is whether Judge has suffered a UCL injury, which could require Tommy John surgery. While Boone did not confirm any ligament damage, the fact that Judge is seeing Dr. Ahmad—a leading Tommy John specialist—raises concerns.

If Judge needs surgery, he could miss several months or even the rest of the season, depending on the severity. Given his age and importance to the team, the Yankees will likely proceed with extreme caution.

Yankees’ Next Steps Without Aaron Judge

In Judge’s absence, the Yankees started Cody Bellinger in right field, with Trent Grisham in center and Jasson Dominguez in left against Phillies left-hander Ranger Suárez.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are reportedly aggressively pursuing pitching help (both starters and relievers) and could look for a right-handed infielder, according to ESPN sources. However, no player can fill the void left by Judge.

Boone’s Statement on Aaron Judge’s Injury

Boone emphasized that the team is waiting for a full diagnosis before making any decisions.

“The thing I want is, ‘What do we have here?’” Boone said. “Then what’s the course of action? I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself with that. Hopefully, it’s something that’s manageable and we get through it.”

Final Thoughts: What’s Next for Aaron Judge and the Yankees?

Fans will be anxiously awaiting updates on Judge’s elbow injury. If he misses significant time, the Yankees’ playoff hopes could take a major hit. For now, all eyes are on the medical reports and whether Judge will require an extended absence.

Stay tuned for the latest updates on Aaron Judge’s injury status and how the Yankees plan to move forward without their best player.