New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge has returned to the team after a long break due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. He last played on July 25 and was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. Manager Aaron Boone stated that Judge will start as the designated hitter when they face the Texas Rangers.
The Yankees have struggled lately, losing four straight games, putting extra pressure on the team. Giancarlo Stanton, another key player, has been the starting designated hitter this season. He missed the first part of the season due to elbow tendon inflammation, and Boone mentioned that Stanton won’t be in the outfield if Judge is DH-ing during this series.
Judge is having a standout season. He leads Major League Baseball with a .342 batting average and ranks high in home runs and RBIs, with 37 homers and 85 RBIs respectively. Before his return, he practiced hitting with minor league players in Tampa. An MRI revealed no serious damage to his elbow, which is a relief for both him and the Yankees. After a platelet-rich injection on July 27, he is back in action.
While in Texas, Boone said Judge will try playing catch to assess when he might field again. This flexibility could be vital for the team as they push for a playoff spot.
In other news, the Yankees recently placed newly acquired outfielder Austin Slater on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. has been activated after recovering from a stress fracture. Meanwhile, the team has made other roster adjustments, including recalling right-hander Yerry De los Santos and sending Jake Bird down to Triple-A.
Currently, the Yankees sit 5½ games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the division and hold the second spot in the American League wild-card chase, trailing the Boston Red Sox by 2½ games. With 49 games left in the regular season, every match counts for their playoff hopes.
As they move forward, how the team adapts with Judge’s return could shape their trajectory as they aim for postseason success.
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