The New York Yankees received some good news on the injury front with Aaron Judge, as it was revealed that the slugger has only suffered a mild hip strain. This diagnoses means that Judge will not be placed on the injured list, at least not yet.
The 6-foot-7, 282-pound right fielder underwent an MRI on Tuesday after experiencing some tightness in his left hip during his first at-bat in Monday night’s game against the Houston Astros. The results showed a mild strain, which explains why the Yankees are not rushing to place him on the injured list.
Judge has been a key player for the Yankees this season, leading the team in home runs with 25 and runs batted in with 60, while batting .282 over 85 games. Losing him for an extended period of time would be a significant blow to the team’s postseason aspirations.
However, the fact that Judge will avoid the injured list for the time being is a positive sign for the team. The Yankees have been ravaged by injuries this season, with several key players spending extended periods of time on the sidelines.
Starting pitcher Luis Severino is yet to make his season debut due to a shoulder injury, while outfielder Giancarlo Stanton has only played in nine games this year due to various ailments. Didi Gregorius, Miguel Andujar, and Dellin Betances have also missed significant time due to injury.
The Yankees have managed to remain competitive despite these setbacks, thanks in part to the impressive performances of their role players. However, they will need their star players like Judge to be healthy and contributing if they hope to make a deep playoff run.
It remains to be seen when Judge will return to full health, but the fact that he has avoided the injured list is a good sign. The Yankees will likely take a cautious approach with their star slugger, treating him with care until he is fully fit to return.
In the meantime, the Yankees will continue to rely on the likes of DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres, and Gary Sanchez to provide the offensive spark. They are currently 56-29 on the season, leading the American League East division. With the playoffs just a few months away, having a healthy Aaron Judge will be crucial for their World Series aspirations.
