The New York Yankees have confirmed that star slugger Aaron Judge will be out for at least another week due to a mild right hip strain.
The reigning American League MVP has been out since leaving their game against the Texas Rangers last Thursday (April 27). Over the weekend, in Judge's absence, the Yankees lost three straight matches, followed by another defeat against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday.
While the injury issue is not a long-term problem, it only adds to a wretched start to the team's season. The Yankees are bottom of the AL East with a .500 record after losing seven out of their last ten games and are already eight-and-a-half games back of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The news broke before taking on the Guardians at Yankee Stadium. “Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves: Placed OF Aaron Judge on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to 4/28) with a right hip strain,” the team announced on Twitter.
The team have also now recalled Franchy Cordero from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. As Judge's addition to the 10-day injured list is retroactive to April 28, the earliest the outfielder will be eligible to return is Monday, May 8.
Before then, the Yankees face two more games this week against the Guardians before travelling to Tampa Bay over the weekend. Should Judge return on Monday, he could be ready to face the Oakland Athletics that night.
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Judge is just the latest Yankees player to become injured this season. The hitter is the 13th player on their injury list, the highest total in the majors. Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson are two other frontline hitters currently out.
But Judge is undoubtedly the biggest miss due to his own performances and the lack of available alternatives. In 26 games this season, the four-time all-star has hit six home runs and 14 RBIs on a .261 batting average.
It all comes after a career season that saw Judge sweep award season. As well as being named AL MVP, the slugger was named All-MLB First Team for the second-straight year and led the AL in home runs, runs and RBI.
On the back of those feats, the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants pursued the player during free agency. Instead, Judge stayed in New York and signed the most lucrative free agent deal in league history.
The $360 million contract averages $40m a season for the next nine years, taking Judge to 40 years old. Alongside that announcement, he was named the team's captain, only the 16th in the franchise's illustrious history and the first for eight years since Derek Jeter retired.
Judge will have to lead from the sidelines for at least the next week, though, as he rests that right hip. The slugger will hope the Yankees can stay afloat in Tampa Bay without him this weekend.
