Judge Faces Uncertain Return From Flexor Strain

Aaron Judge remains limited to designated hitter duties as questions linger about his throwing and the timing of a full return.

Judge Faces Uncertain Return From Flexor Strain

Aaron Judge is restricted to DH duties after a right flexor strain sidelined him last month. He returned from the injured list and has posted a .229/.426/.429 line in 11 games, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone signaled that Judge may not throw like his pre-injury self this year. The comments, noted by The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner and discussed on WFAN and Talkin’ Yanks, suggest Judge could need to play with a governor on his throws before a full return to the field. Judge himself acknowledged a careful approach to avoid elbow setbacks.

The Yankees face a tight balance between short term needs and long term health. With Judge at DH, Giancarlo Stanton has continued to supply production (.299/.377/.576 in 44 games since coming off the injured list) and has seen limited time in the outfield due to past injuries. To keep the lineup intact while Judge stays at DH, Ben Rice has received more starts behind the plate, and Austin Wells has seen less playing time. The club remains in the thick of a playoff race, trailing the Blue Jays in the AL East while remaining in the mix for wild-card spots with several teams in pursuit.

The situation exposes a common tension in contemporary baseball: how to protect a star player while squeezing every playoff advantage from a contending roster. If Judge can’t throw at normal power, New York may lean more on him as a hitter for a while longer, even as Stanton handles more of the field duties in a makeshift alignment. The decision to extend Judge’s time at DH hinges on field readiness versus the risk of reinjury, a calculation that could alter the Yankees’ rotation and bullpen usage in the weeks ahead. The team’s strategy also reflects how injuries cascade through a roster, pushing catchers and bench players into bigger roles and testing depth in a pennant race.

Highlights

Time will tell how health decisions shape the Yankees’ postseason outlook.