Aaron Judge’s return lasted just seven games before the New York Yankees received another injury scare.
The Yankees removed their captain from Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning because of lower-right-leg tightness. Judge had only recently returned from a 99-day absence caused by a stress fracture in his first right rib, leaving New York with a major health question and just 10 games remaining in the regular season.
The team has described the new issue only as tightness. No diagnosis, test result or timetable was immediately announced, so it would be premature to assume either a quick return or another extended absence.
What happened in Minnesota
Judge appeared uncomfortable following a check swing during his third-inning plate appearance but remained in the game. He stayed in right field and came to the plate again before Heliot Ramos replaced him as a pinch hitter in the sixth, according to Reuters.
The Yankees eventually lost 5–4 in 13 innings after repeatedly extending the game. The defeat, however, was quickly overshadowed by the status of the most important hitter in their lineup.
Judge’s removal may ultimately prove precautionary. But the timing makes even a minor issue consequential: New York has already clinched a postseason berth, and the remaining regular-season games are its final opportunity to get Judge healthy and comfortable before October.
A comeback that had only begun
Judge returned from the injured list on September 8 after missing more than three months with the rib stress fracture. The Yankees had been easing him back into action, including scheduled rest, rather than treating his return as an immediate return to a full workload.
His most encouraging moment came Monday. Judge launched a three-run homer 415 feet into the second deck at Target Field—his first home run since leaving the injured list—as New York secured another playoff appearance. In the official MLB account of that game, Judge said his goal was to sharpen his timing before the postseason.
That homer suggested his power was returning even while his overall results remained uneven. Through 66 games this season, the 34-year-old was batting .241 with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs. In his first five games after returning, he went 3-for-17 before breaking through with Monday’s blast.
Why the Yankees cannot simply replace him
Judge is an eight-time All-Star and a three-time American League Most Valuable Player. His value goes beyond one spot in the batting order: opposing teams plan their pitching around him, and his presence changes the quality of pitches seen by hitters behind him.
New York has enough depth to cover an outfield position for a short stretch. Replacing Judge’s impact in a playoff lineup is a different problem.
The Yankees are also balancing two goals that can pull in opposite directions. They still have standings position to pursue, but pushing Judge back too quickly would make little sense if additional rest can improve his chances of being available in October.
What remains unknown
The most important next step is the Yankees’ medical evaluation. “Tightness” describes a symptom, not a diagnosis, and the organization had not publicly said whether Judge would need imaging or miss additional games.
Several questions therefore remain unanswered:
- Was the removal entirely precautionary?
- Will Judge be available for the Yankees’ next series?
- Will New York limit him to designated-hitter duty when he returns?
- Could the new problem affect the careful buildup from his rib injury?
Until the Yankees provide more information, the responsible conclusion is narrow: Judge left early, the team identified lower-right-leg tightness, and his immediate availability is uncertain.
Ten games now carry a different meaning
New York entered the final stretch trying to improve its postseason position and get its captain back to peak form. Wednesday changed the priority.
The final 10 regular-season games are no longer merely a race for seeding. They are also a countdown to determine whether Judge’s latest issue is a brief interruption—or a problem that reshapes the Yankees’ October plans.
