Yankees’ Aaron Boone Makes Aaron Judge Decision After Giancarlo Stanton Update

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated May 8, 2026 9:21 PM ET

The New York Yankees have been one of the best teams in MLB to open the 2026 season. The offense has continued to perform at an elite level, led by superstar Aaron Judge.

The 34-year-old right-handed slugger has posted a .270 batting average, .401 on-base percentage, 1.044 OPS, 15 home runs and 29 RBIs entering Friday’s series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers.

However, the lineup is not at full strength. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton suffered a right calf strain in late April in a game against the Houston Astros. He has been on the 10-day injured list since, working to recover and make his return.

He is not the only player sidelined. On Thursday, outfielder Jasson Dominguez suffered a left shoulder sprain after colliding into the outfield wall. He was also placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday.

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99)© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

As a result, the Yankees called up top prospect Spencer Jones, who made his MLB debut on Friday as the designated hitter. However, manager Aaron Boone revealed that will not always be Jones’s role.

Instead, the team plans to give him opportunities in both left field and center field. Boone also said that he has decided Judge will receive more starts at designated hitter while Stanton is out, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. This is important for keeping Judge healthy throughout the season.

Judge is known for his bat, not his defense, and his offensive production remains the driving force behind the Yankees lineup. He is widely regarded as the best hitter of his generation, with three American League MVP awards, an AL Rookie of the Year, seven All-Star selections and five Silver Slugger Awards.

Aaron Boone told the reporters in Milwaukee that he is comfortable playing Spencer Jones in both left field and center field. He is DH'ing today, but Boone figures to get Aaron Judge some DH days while Giancarlo Stanton is down.
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) May 8, 2026

This could also be a long-term development for Judge. In early May, the latest update on Stanton from Boone indicated he is still unable to run and is only beginning to resume hitting (h/t Gary Phillips of NY Daily News). That suggests he is likely weeks away from returning.

With Stanton out and Dominguez sidelined, Judge will likely see multiple days at designated hitter, and Jones should receive an extended look in the outfield. Yankees fans have been waiting for Jones to arrive, as he has been one of the best players in Triple-A since 2024.

The Yankees will now rely on their depth to keep the offense rolling while they wait for their lineup to return to full strength.

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

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