Judge Excluded From Postseason Roster
Aaron Judge has been left off the New York Yankees' roster for their American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox, starting Tuesday night, due to a strained right calf. The injury has sidelined the team's captain since Sept. 16.
Judge did not join the pregame introductions for Game 1 of the best-of-three series. His absence marks a significant change for New York as they face Boston in the opening round of the playoffs.
Manager Boone Cites Readiness Concerns
Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated that Judge had undergone extensive preparation but was not yet medically cleared to participate. Following a meeting with Judge and the athletic training staff after Monday's workout, Boone provided an update on the player's status.
"He’s had a good couple of weeks of obviously really grinding and doing everything he possibly can to be an option," Boone said. "Just felt like he’s not quite there yet."
Judge attempted to persuade manager Aaron Boone and medical staff that he could play by taking live batting practice on Monday. During the session, he walked twice and hit a comebacker before taking a called third strike against teammates Ryan Weathers and Elmer Rodríguez.
Recent Injury History Limits Availability
The three-time AL MVP has dealt with multiple injuries throughout the season. Judge had a platelet-poor plasma injection on Sept. 21 in an effort to recover from his latest issue.
Before this calf strain, Judge was sidelined by a fractured rib from May 31 to Sept. 8. He played in just seven games before suffering the injury that ultimately kept him out of the Wild Card Series.
Judge was limited to 66 games this season overall. In those appearances, he hit .241 with 18 home runs, 41 RBIs, and an .871 OPS. His performance declined in the final month of the regular season, where he hit .174 with one homer and three RBIs in September.
Red Sox Roster Moves and Pitching Depth
While New York navigates its injury crisis, Boston has bolstered its own roster options. Red Sox manager Chad Tracy highlighted the reinstatement of left-hander Garrett Crochet from the 60-day injured list. Crochet, who had not pitched since April 25 due to left shoulder inflammation, will be available in the bullpen.
"That could be a big arm for us," Tracy said regarding Crochet's return. "I don’t think it was an overly difficult decision... But not closing the doors on anything."
The Red Sox also have Giancarlo Stanton on their bench, though he is currently sidelined himself. Stanton has been out since April 24 because of strained calf muscles in both legs. Despite his absence from play, Boone noted Stanton's value as a right-handed pinch-hitting option against a Boston pitching staff featuring seven left-handers.
"He’s never stopped going and stopped grinding even through some tough moments and some tough setbacks, and so he’s put himself in a position," Boone said of Stanton. The Yankees also included center fielder Trent Grisham among their 16 position players, despite Grisham being sidelined since Sept. 4 by a strained right hamstring.