CHICAGO — A routine ground ball turned into a painful moment Thursday night when New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge collided with Chicago White Sox first baseman Miguel Vargas during New York’s 10-4 victory at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The play unfolded in the fifth inning when Judge chopped a grounder toward third. Curtis Mead fielded the ball cleanly but made a wide throw to first. Vargas stretched for the catch as Judge sprinted down the line. Judge’s left thigh struck Vargas’ left hand, sending the White Sox infielder to the ground in obvious pain.
Vargas clutched his wrist before exiting. The White Sox later announced he suffered a left wrist contusion and would undergo further tests on Friday.
“I feel it more in the top of my hand,” Vargas said after the game. “It’s a little bit sore. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll get a better answer. In the moment, I was very scared. It wasn’t feeling right in the moment.”
The collision shifted momentum. Judge was credited with a single and advanced to second on the errant throw. The miscue allowed Ben Rice to score from first, breaking a 4-4 tie. New York added another run later in the inning to pull ahead 6-4.
Vargas’s night goes from grand to gruesome
The injury overshadowed what had been a career highlight earlier in the game. In the second inning, Miguel Vargas launched his first career grand slam to left field off Yankees starter Will Warren, tying the game 4-4.
The 24-year-old had been swinging the bat well since the All-Star break, hitting .283 with an .841 OPS. Now the White Sox may be without him for the remainder of the season, forcing the club to rely on Mead and Lenyn Sosa at the corners.
Boone takes measured approach on Judge’s outfield return
While Judge’s collision drew attention, Yankees manager Aaron Boone fielded questions about another subject — his captain’s defensive future. When asked whether he would allow Judge, to outfield action at some point this season, Boone replied: “I do.”
Judge has been limited to designated hitter duties since returning on Aug. 5 from a right flexor strain that sidelined him for more than a week.
“Judgie’s going to continue to work this week. We’ll see where that leads,” Boone said before Thursday’s opener.
Judge has been clear about his own intentions. “I’m a ballplayer,” he said. “I want to play both sides of the ball and go out there making plays on defense, helping my team out. I know hitting’s important and all that, but I feel like I can impact this team on both sides, so I can’t wait to get back out there.”
Manager avoids controversy with measured responses
Boone’s restraint is notable after a misstep earlier in August. During a WFAN interview, he said he did not expect Judge to throw “like he normally does at any point this year.”
Judge immediately pushed back. “I don’t know why he said that,” the reigning MVP responded. “He hasn’t seen me throw for the past two weeks, so I’m pretty confident I’ll get back to [100 percent].”
Since then, Boone has tempered his remarks, leaving updates to the Yankees’ medical staff.
Judge continues throwing program
Despite the cautious tone, Judge has been making steady progress. He began his throwing program on Aug. 6 in Arlington, gradually building both distance and intensity.
Before Thursday’s game in Chicago, Judge played catch with trainer Alfonso Malaguti, extending from 60 to 150 feet. He also practiced throwing from right field to second base with teammate Giancarlo Stanton.
Judge had already reached a milestone on Sunday at Yankee Stadium, throwing to bases for the first time since the injury. Still, the team has not set a target date for his defensive return.
“The bottom line is we want to do this the right way,” Boone said. “And as much as he wants to be out there and we want him out there, we’ve got to make sure we want to do everything possible to put ourselves in the best position to not re-injure this.”
Stanton fills outfield void
With Judge restricted to DH duties, Stanton has stepped into right field. Thursday marked his first start in an outfield spot outside Yankee Stadium in two years.
Stanton, who missed more than two months earlier this season with tennis elbow, has been locked in at the plate. Entering Thursday, he carried a .358/.421/.835 slash line with 16 home runs over his previous 35 games.
“Obviously, a little more ground to cover [at Rate Field], but not any more physical concern than I would otherwise,” Boone said about Stanton’s assignment.
Yankees maintain playoff position
The Yankees improved to 74-60 with the win, keeping their place in the American League Wild Card race. Judge continues to produce as a DH, keeping himself in the mix for a second consecutive MVP award.
The collision with Vargas highlighted Judge’s imposing presence. At 6-foot-7 and 282 pounds, the Yankees captain has a way of turning ordinary plays into major events.
For now, Judge’s return to the field remains in question. Boone and the Yankees are determined to handle his rehab conservatively, avoiding the controversy that flared earlier this month while prioritizing the long-term health of their superstar.
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