Yankees' Aaron Boone Announces Aaron Judge News Before Rays Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Aug 19, 2025 1:38 PM ET

The New York Yankees are riding a three-game win streak as they head into their series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

Ahead of the matchup, manager Aaron Boone met with the media and shared several key updates—most notably on superstar Aaron Judge, who recently returned from an IL stint after tweaking his elbow while throwing from the outfield.

Aaron Boone Provides Critical Update

Boone revealed that Judge, who has been serving primarily as a DH since returning from the IL, is unlikely to play in the outfield at a high volume—if at all—again this season.

While it was expected that Judge would be limited in order to prioritize his health, Boone officially clarified that his throwing won’t return to normal this year. As a result, Giancarlo Stanton will likely see more time in the outfield moving forward.

'I don’t think we’re going to see him back to throwing like he normally does at any point this year," Boone said. "We're trying to get through where he can let it go with ease and be able to protect himself."

On Aaron Judge, Aaron Boone said "I don't think we're going to see him back to throwing like he normally does at any point this year." @WFAN660

"We're trying to get through where he can let it go with ease and be able to protect himself."
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) August 19, 2025

Aaron Judge is unquestionably the most important player on the Yankees roster, and if they’re going to make noise in the postseason, his presence in the lineup every day is critical. That’s why Boone’s decision to limit Judge’s time in the outfield makes sense, with throwing unlikely to return to normal for him this season—regardless of how long the Yankees’ playoff run lasts.

So far this year, Judge is batting .333 with 39 home runs, 91 RBIs, and boasts an impressive .687 slugging percentage and 1.137 OPS.

Upcoming Yankees Schedule

While New York opens a two-game set with the Rays on Tuesday night, the focus will quickly shift to a massive four-game home series against the Boston Red Sox beginning Thursday and running through the weekend.

Both teams enter the matchup tied in the AL East and neck-and-neck in the Wild Card race, making it one of the most important series of the season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: