Suspicion arises among experts and analysts that the New York Yankees may have concealed the full severity of Aaron Judge's injury.
Aaron Judge, the key player for the New York Yankees, found himself on the 10-day injured list last Saturday due to a right flexor strain in his elbow 14. The injury, sustained during a throw from right field on July 22, 2025, has put the Yankees in a precarious position, leading to a heightened interest in acquiring multiple hitters 5.
Judge's Injury and Recovery Timeline
The Yankees expect Judge to be activated from the injured list around early August, likely on Tuesday or Wednesday (August 5-6) 14. Initially, he will return as the designated hitter (DH) rather than playing in the outfield. Manager Aaron Boone has outlined a recovery plan where Judge spends about 10 days on the IL, then roughly 10 days playing only as DH while potentially starting a throwing program, building back to full outfield duties in about 20 days total. This timeline aims for Judge to return to right field around mid-August 1.
Judge took batting practice on August 1, 2025, and is traveling to Tampa for live at-bats, indicating progression in his rehab 4. The team is also having Giancarlo Stanton, their usual DH, get some outfield reps during this period to cover Judge’s absence in the field 1.
Doubts About Judge's Injury Recovery
While the Yankees have been optimistic about Judge's recovery, some analysts have expressed doubts. Will Carroll, a sports injury expert, stated that Aaron Judge's current injury is worse than a UCL tear 2. Yankees Go Yard writer Adam Weinrib's viewpoint on Judge's injury recovery indicates a more serious condition than what the team has publicly stated 6.
Esteban Quiñones, a Yankees analyst for Pinstripes Nation, suggests that the team may have underplayed the extent of Judge's injury 7. Adam Weinrib, in his writings for Yankees Go Yard, believes that while Carroll's analysis may contain some hyperbole, Judge's injury might take longer to heal than initially suggested 8.
Contingency Plans: The Yankees' Trade Deadline Interests
The Yankees' trade deadline interest in multiple hitters, such as Willi Castro, Harrison Bader, and Austin Slater, could be an indication of their contingency plan for Aaron Judge's potential extended absence 5. The heightened interest in position players over pitchers could indicate a potential longer-term plan in response to Judge's injury 9.
In the initial days following Judge's injury, Aaron Boone suggested that his recovery would take no longer than 10 days 10. However, as the injury has proven to be more complex than initially thought, the Yankees are exploring contingency plans to ensure they maintain their competitive edge.
The Yankees' renewed interest in acquiring multiple hitters could imply a possible extended absence for Aaron Judge due to his injury, as initially expected to be around early August 5, 9. Despite initial optimism, sports analysts, such as Will Carroll, Adam Weinrib, and Esteban Quiñones, have expressed doubts about Judge's injury recovery and its potential for taking longer than anticipated 2, 6, 7, 8. As such, baseball fans may also follow baseball leagues like MLB and the progress of other sports, such as cricket, during Judge's temporary absence from the game 3, 4, 5.
