New York Yankees Place Power-hitter Aaron Judge on Injury List
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge's big toe took a beating after an electrifying catch against the Dodgers, putting him on the 10-day injured list. The collision with the right field wall left Judge's toe bruised and a ligament strained.
Judge had been hobbled by a swollen toe in the previous two games, with the team initially fearing a fracture. Yet, an MRI confirmed only soft tissue injuries. The Yankees will officially place Judge on the IL on Wednesday.
The Yankees have been plagued by injuries this season, starting with their rotation and extending to key position players. Lefty starter Nestor Cortes and hitters like Giancarlo Stanton, Harrison Bader, Josh Donaldson, and Judge himself, have all spent time on the injured list.
Fortunately, the Yankees boast a strong record of 36-26, with only three teams having more wins in the league, all from the American League.
The Yankees are currently +950 odds to win the 2023 World Series and +500 odds to win the AL pennant.
Judge Crashes Wall, Clips Concrete
The stunning play took place during a 6-3 triumph against the Dodgers on Saturday. Judge smashed into the right field wall to rob J.D. Martinez of an extra-base hit and potential RBI, offering an awe-inspiring over-the-shoulder catch.
Teammate Oswaldo Cabrera called Judge an "alien."
During the collision, Judge's right foot made contact with the concrete base of the wall, causing his injury. Manager Aaron Boone ran to assess his star outfielder, who tried to reassure the team he was fine.
"He kept pushing us back, like, 'I’m fine, I’m fine,'" Boone recalled. "Then I ran out and said, 'I just wanted to tell you what a great catch it was.'"
Pitcher Gerrit Cole commented that Judge's speed had a kinetic effect, minimizing the impact on the wall. "It’s still very concerning when such a great player has to go so hard into the wall. He’s got a lot of guts."
Judge hit a home run before the collision, maintaining the league lead with 19. New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso outranks Judge with 21 home runs this season.
During Judge's absence, Jake Bauers, Willie Calhoun, and Oswaldo Cabrera are likely to fill in. The Yankees have yet to specify a return timetable for Judge.
Judge's Second IL Stint
With a 1.078 OPS and .674 slugging percentage, Judge leads the league. He's batting .291/.404/.674 with 19 home runs and 40 RBI this season.
A hip injury sidelined Judge in late April, following a slide into a base during a steal attempt against the Minnesota Twins. He spent a brief time on the injured list before returning early May, but the Yankees struggled without him, going 4-6.
Since his recovery from the hip injury, Judge has been on a tear, posting a .325 batting average with 13 home runs and 26 RBI in 23 games.
Following his MVP performance in 2022, Judge sealed a lucrative nine-year contract worth $360 million in the off-season, turning down a $400 million offer from the San Diego Padres to stay in the Bronx.
After a stellar rookie season in 2017, Judge missed 50 games in 2018 and 60 games in 2019. In the first full season after the pandemic, Judge appeared in 148 games in 2021. During his MVP campaign in 2022, he played in a career-high 157 games.
In 2023, Judge has already missed 13 games, or 20% of the season.
Two-way star Shohei Ohtani from the Los Angeles Angels is the favorite to win the 2023 American League MVP at -160 odds. Judge follows as a +1000 underdog to capture the MVP title for the second consecutive year.
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