Yankees Star Has Blunt Reaction to Aaron Judge Injury

The New York Yankees said Friday they will place captain Aaron Judge on the 10-day injured list Saturday because of a right calf strain, another blow to a lineup that has spent much of the year without its biggest bat.

A corresponding roster move will be made at that time. New York Post columnist Jon Heyman reported Judge would be eligible to return for the final game of the regular season.

The Yankees pulled Judge from Wednesday’s loss to the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in the sixth inning after the calf tightened. He tried to stay in as long as he could.

“I tried to play it off and see how long we can go because these games are important down the stretch,” Judge said. “Talking it over I thought it’d be the right move to come out so we don’t cost the team on the field or cost the team on the basepaths.”

Before Friday’s series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, outfielder Cody Bellinger addressed the latest absence. The Yankees have already secured a playoff berth but entered the weekend five games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.

“Missing Judge, it hurts. We all know he’s the best hitter in the game,” Bellinger said. “For us in here, our mindset is, we’re going to have to find a way. I think the talent in this locker room speaks for itself. I’m fully confident that we have enough talent in here that we can go out and win, and beat anybody.”

Judge missed most of 2026 with a stress fracture in his right rib. New York placed him on the injured list June 2. He did not return until Sept. 7.

The results after that long layoff were thin. In six games back, Judge hit .190/.227/.333 with one home run and three RBI. Broader season numbers through 66 games showed a .241 average, 18 home runs and 41 RBI.

Before the June placement, Judge had hit .248/.375/.533 with 17 home runs and 38 RBI in 59 games. Since his 2016 debut he has slashed .291/.410/.610 with 386 home runs and 871 RBI and won three American League MVP awards.

Manager Aaron Boone said the club has already spent much of the season without Judge and that expectations do not change. Ben Rice led the team with 38 home runs. Bellinger was hitting .276 with a team-high 25 doubles, 16 home runs and 71 RBI.

The Yankees opened a three-game set in Arizona on Friday night. Utility player Max Schuemann was expected to be recalled as the corresponding move.

Calf strains often need two to three weeks even in milder cases. Boone declined to put a firm timeline on a postseason return when asked Friday.

The clubhouse has dealt with a string of absences this year, including earlier stints for Giancarlo Stanton and others. Bellinger said the group’s talent still gives it a chance against anyone.

New York will play the Rays next week at Yankee Stadium before closing the regular season against Baltimore. The American League Wild Card Series is scheduled to begin Sept. 29.