ARLINGTON, Texas — The New York Yankees faced an immediate setback Monday night when newly acquired outfielder Austin Slater exited the game in the first inning with left hamstring tightness. The injury occurred as Slater ran out a ground ball against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.
Slater was immediately replaced by pinch-runner Jasson Dominguez, who took over in left field for the remainder of the Yankees’ eventual 8-5 loss to the Rangers.
The timing of Slater’s injury provides the Yankees with a clear roster move as Aaron Judge prepares to return from the injured list. If Slater has to go on the injured list, it will create an easy roster decision for the Yankees, as Aaron Judge is expected to come off the IL on Tuesday.
Slater suffers hamstring injury in second Yankees start
Slater suffered the injury while running to first on a fielder’s choice at Globe Life Field. He had trouble getting down the line, but he made it to first base before pulling up and grabbing his left hamstring. The 32-year-old outfielder was making just his second start since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline.
Slater’s injury caps a disappointing start to his Yankees career. Acquired from the White Sox for pitching prospect Gage Ziehl, the veteran outfielder was brought in specifically for his success against left-handed pitching.
This season, Slater is batting .236 with five home runs and a .721 OPS in 51 games this season, but like recent Yankees acquisition Amed Rosario, he has been very productive against left-handed pitchers with a .261 batting average, .859 OPS and all five of his home runs coming in 77 plate appearances against them.
The right-handed hitter was in Monday’s lineup specifically to face Rangers left-hander Patrick Corbin, exactly the type of matchup the Yankees envisioned when making the trade.
Outfield depth concerns
With Slater likely headed to the injured list and Judge limited to DH duties, the Yankees will continue relying on an outfield of Jasson Dominguez in left, Trent Grisham in center and Cody Bellinger in right field on most days.
Dominguez has shown promise but struggles against left-handed pitching, posting just a .585 OPS batting right-handed compared to .810 from the left side. The loss of Slater removes a key right-handed option against southpaws.
Judge set for Tuesday return as designated hitter
Aaron Judge arrived in Arlington Monday night and will be activated off the injured list Tuesday, marking his return after missing 10 days with a right flexor strain in his elbow. The Yankees captain spent the weekend taking live batting practice at the team’s minor league facility in Tampa.
“It’s Aaron Judge,” manager Aaron Boone said before Monday’s game. “We know what he means to our lineup, to the guys in the room. So to get him back, we’re certainly excited about that. Hopefully shortly thereafter, he’s back out in the field, too.”
Judge is expected to be activated between Tuesday and Wednesday next week when the Yankees take on the Texas Rangers. To minimize the stress on his throwing arm, the team plans to use him as a designated hitter.
The MVP candidate sustained the injury July 22 against the Toronto Blue Jays while attempting to throw out a runner at home plate. Initial fears of a season-ending injury were alleviated when tests showed his ulnar collateral ligament remained intact.
Judge’s impact on lineup and field positioning
Judge’s return as designated hitter creates a ripple effect throughout the Yankees lineup. Giancarlo Stanton, who had been serving as the primary DH, will likely become more of a bench bat unless he returns to the outfield for the first time since 2023.
Boone has left the door open for Stanton to play right field once the team returns to Yankee Stadium Friday, though the manager ruled out any outfield appearances during the current series on artificial turf in Texas.
“We’ll see,” Boone said. “I’m not ruling out him being in the field when we get back [home], but I probably would not do it here.”
Judge’s throwing program timeline
While Judge will return as designated hitter Tuesday, his timeline for returning to right field remains uncertain. Aaron Boone gave an update on New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge on Tuesday, saying that he’s still one or two weeks away from throwing.
“His arm will tell him,” Boone said regarding Judge’s eventual return to the outfield.
Judge is in a no-throwing phase and is unlikely to play the outfield anytime soon. The team will begin evaluating his throwing program once he starts the next phase of his rehabilitation.
Yankees struggle without their captain
The Yankees have posted a 4-6 record since Judge last played, averaging just under five runs per game during that stretch. His absence was particularly felt during a weekend sweep by the Miami Marlins, where New York managed just three runs on eight hits across the final two games.
Before his injury, Judge was mounting another MVP-caliber campaign. He entered the injured list batting .342 with 37 home runs and a 1.160 OPS, leading the majors in several offensive categories including batting average and OPS.
Judge’s return provides an immediate offensive boost, though it won’t cure all the team’s issues. While his return is a welcome boost for a team trying to surge in the standings, it comes with caveats. The team remains in third place in the American League East, trailing the division-leading Blue Jays by 5.5 games.
With Judge back in the lineup, even in a limited capacity, the Yankees hope to find the offensive spark that has been missing during his absence.
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