New York Yankees' outfielder Aaron Judge left Tuesday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles after being hit on the left pinkie by a 94.1 mph fastball from Albert Suárez. Despite initially staying in the game after being examined by an athletic trainer, Judge eventually exited the game for further evaluation.
Judge, who leads the major leagues with 26 home runs and 64 RBIs, was visibly in discomfort after the incident but managed to score a run before heading towards the clubhouse for medical attention. The Yankees later announced that Judge was being taken for imaging at New York–Presbyterian Hospital and would be evaluated by the team physician.
This is not the first time Judge has faced injury due to being hit by a pitch. In 2018, he missed 45 games with a broken right wrist after a similar incident. The 32-year-old outfielder, a five-time All-Star and the 2022 AL MVP, has been a key player for the Yankees this season.
Following the recent injury to Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts, who broke his left hand after being hit by a pitch, concerns have been raised about player safety in the league. Betts is expected to miss six to eight weeks due to his injury.
As Judge undergoes further evaluation, the Yankees will be closely monitoring his condition and hoping for a swift recovery for their star player. Stay tuned for updates on Judge's status as more information becomes available.
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