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Judge Safe from Surgery: Yankees Captain Faces Brief Recovery
The New York Yankees and their fan base received a much-needed sigh of relief this weekend as news broke that Judge safe from surgery was the ultimate takeaway following a concerning elbow injury. Yankees captain and two-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, who has been the cornerstone of the team’s offensive and defensive power this season, has been diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow — but crucially, no acute damage to his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) was found.
While Judge will still be placed on the injured list (IL), the update ensures his time off the field will likely be short-term. The confirmation that Judge safe from surgery came as welcome news, especially considering the early fears of a more serious, long-term injury.
MRI Clears Serious Concerns
Aaron Judge underwent an MRI on Saturday after reporting elbow discomfort following a strong throw in Tuesday’s game against Toronto. He missed only his second game of the season on Saturday during a 9-4 loss to Philadelphia. Despite some initial anxiety about the possibility of surgery or UCL damage, Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed the encouraging outcome: Judge safe from surgery after evaluation.
Boone shared, “All in all, we got good news today. I think all of us kind of feared the worst.” This optimism was echoed across the Yankees organization and among fans who feared a prolonged absence of their captain.
Timeline for Return
Although Judge safe from surgery is the headline, he will still require rest and treatment to ensure a full recovery. Judge received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to promote healing and is expected to avoid throwing for 10 to 14 days. Following that rest period, he will need a few days to rebuild throwing strength before potentially returning to the outfield.
In the meantime, Judge plans to return as a designated hitter (DH) as soon as his 10-day IL stint ends. “I really was reluctant about going on any IL or anything like that,” Judge said. “I was like, ‘If I can hit, let me hit.’ I’ll start DHing, I think, once this 10th day is up.”
This reflects Judge’s known resilience and team-first mentality, another reason fans and teammates find reassurance in the news that Judge safe from surgery holds true.
Teammates React to Encouraging Update
Slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who has been the Yankees’ primary DH, will begin working out in the outfield next week to help fill Judge’s temporary absence. Stanton emphasized the positive nature of the diagnosis, saying, “It’s never a relief knowing he’s going to be out at all, but for what it is, I guess you could say best case.”
Manager Boone added, “He’s about as tough as they come and for him to even show any vulnerability or pain or whatever — I knew we had an issue probably.” Fortunately, the issue wasn’t as dire as it could have been, with the key takeaway remaining: Judge safe from surgery.
How the Injury Happened
Judge first noticed the elbow issue during the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. When George Springer singled to right field, Judge made a powerful throw to home plate, attempting to prevent a tying run. Though his effort was valiant, the throw resulted in pain that lingered through the next inning.
Later, he winced after catching a fly ball and throwing it in, clenching his hand in a visible sign of discomfort. Despite the pain, Judge continued to play until Friday, when he informed Boone he could no longer throw beyond 60 feet. Concerned about putting his team’s pitchers at risk, Judge requested to be taken out.
“I just didn’t want to put our pitchers in jeopardy, just not be able to come up and make a play for them,” he said.
The responsible approach from the Yankees captain further solidifies why headlines now read Judge safe from surgery, not sidelined for the season.
No Need for Elbow Surgery
Boone explained that pushing through the flexor strain could have risked damaging the UCL — a far more serious injury that often requires Tommy John surgery and a long rehabilitation process. This makes the diagnosis all the more significant.
“With that strain, then if you go out there and play with it, you put the UCL in jeopardy, so we got to get that healed up,” Boone clarified.
The decision to go for early imaging and treatment ensured Judge safe from surgery remains the prevailing narrative, preventing a potential catastrophe mid-season.
Impact on the Yankees’ Season
Judge has been having an MVP-caliber season, leading the major leagues with a .342 batting average, 1.160 OPS, 37 home runs, and 85 RBIs. His absence, even for 10 to 14 days, will certainly be felt. The Yankees, who once held a seven-game lead in the AL East, have now dropped 6½ games behind division leader Toronto.
Yet the reassurance that Judge safe from surgery provides is enough to keep team morale high and playoff hopes intact.
The Yankees haven’t made an announcement about calling up a replacement outfielder from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, though top prospect Spencer Jones is under consideration. With Stanton moving to the outfield, the Yankees hope to minimize disruption during Judge’s brief recovery.
Judge’s Mental Toughness Shines Through
Despite the obvious discomfort and risk, Judge continued to play until the pain affected his throwing. Even then, he hesitated to get imaging done, fearing what it might reveal.
“You never want to go in the tube. It’s never fun. You don’t know what’s going to show up,” Judge said. “That’s why I kind of pushed off a lot of that imaging and stuff like that because if I don’t know what’s going on, it can’t hurt you, I guess.”
While his logic may raise eyebrows, his determination is admirable. Fortunately, the results were not as dire as he feared — reaffirming the headline: Judge safe from surgery.
Looking Ahead: A Short Break, Then Back to Business
If all goes according to plan, Judge could return to DH duties as early as mid-August, with a gradual ramp-up toward full outfield play thereafter. This approach protects both his short-term recovery and long-term durability, particularly important as the Yankees aim to regain momentum in the playoff race.
The Yankees will take no chances, now that they know what’s at stake. The short IL stint combined with careful rehabilitation ensures the team’s leadership on and off the field will be back sooner rather than later. As long as the elbow heals properly, Judge safe from surgery could be one of the most important updates of the season.
Final Thoughts
For a team that feared losing their captain indefinitely, the confirmation that Judge safe from surgery offers hope and clarity. Yankees fans, teammates, and officials can now look forward to a swift return from a player who has carried the team for much of the year.
Aaron Judge’s determination, paired with a cautious and informed medical approach, has turned a potentially devastating situation into one of the season’s best-case outcomes. If all goes smoothly, the Yankees’ star slugger will be swinging for the fences again in just a few short weeks — further proving that even in adversity, Judge safe from surgery is the winning headline
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