Yankees maintain air of mystery surrounding Aaron Judge’s injury timeline

Thursday June 8, 2023

Aaron Judge was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday after the team stated he had suffered a “right great toe sprain.” The Yankees have only informed about moving Aaron Judge to 10-day IL and there is no further clarity on his injury leaving fans anxious and confused.

Aaron Boone, manager of the New York Yankees, has claimed that he didn’t know more about his team’s star player until the weekend. He hoped the swelling in Aaron Judge’s toe would have subsided by then so it could be evaluated properly.

No clarity over the extent of Aaron Judge’s injury

The manager revealed that on Tuesday night, Aaron Judge had platelet-rich plasma injected into his foot. The injection is meant to speed up the recovery time. Boone, however, claimed that the next day after Aaron Judge’s injection, he felt considerable pain.

The team doesn’t have much information about Aaron Judge right now because they have to wait for the swelling to go down. The manager mentioned that it’s important to consider receiving a shot in the big toe and overcoming any discomfort associated with it. He also mentioned that they would assess the situation after that.

Aaron Judge is against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 3, 2023. He was injured while trying to make an insane catch. — credit: Getty Images

After the incident at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, Aaron Judge experienced the injury and had to sit out of two subsequent games while undergoing medical examinations. It was later disclosed by the Yankees that he had a “right toe contusion and sprain of the ligament.”

Even medical professionals find the diagnosis of “right toe contusion and sprain of the ligament” to be somewhat unclear or lacking in specific details. An orthopedic surgeon from New Jerse told the New York Post that the injury Aaron Judge sustained could range from a simple and minor injury to a more severe condition like a turf toe injury. However, Dr. Andrew Brief, who specializes in foot and ankle surgery, refrained from speculating about the specific nature of the injury or providing a timeline for recovery.

Based on the team’s decision to place Aaron Judge on the injured list, it can be inferred that the injury is significant enough for him to be unable or advised not to continue playing. It is not a minor injury that can be easily brushed off like stubbing a toe.

According to Dr. Brief, there could be two possibilities. Either Aaron Judge is experiencing significant pain that prevents him from batting or running, or the MRI results indicate that it would be unsafe for him to return to the game immediately.

Is it a significant one to concern the Yankees?

Yankees captain Aaron Judge busted the bullpen door at Dodger Stadium while making a spectacular catch on June 3, 2023.

Last year, DJ LeMahieu experienced a fracture in his right big toe and also sustained ligament damage in his second toe. Unfortunately, these injuries severely impacted his performance and had a negative impact on his season. Before his injuries, DJ LeMahieu had an OPS of .813 up until July. However, his performance declined significantly in the months of August through October, with an OPS of .509. According to Boone, LeMahieu’s injury was described as “different” and “more complicated” compared to Judge’s.

Boone expressed his belief that Aaron Judge would eventually recover from the injury and fully heal.

LeMahieu’s experience serves as evidence of the importance of the right big toe for a right-handed hitter. Without the ability to pivot on his back foot during his swing, LeMahieu’s power was significantly reduced.

Dr. Brief explained that for a right-handed hitter like Aaron Judge, there was considerable torque and leverage placed on the right foot during the swing. This can result in significant strain being applied to the big toe throughout the swing cycle.

The Yankees cannot afford to risk Aaron Judge’s performance at the plate considering his responsibilities in the outfield as well. Aaron Judge currently leads the American League with 19 home runs and has the highest OPS in all of baseball, standing at 1.078.

The recent comebacks of Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson from the injured list strengthen the Yankees’ lineup. However, Aaron Judge remains the catalyst and captain of the team.

The day after Aaron Judge injured his foot by hitting it against the concrete at the base of the Dodger Stadium right-field wall during an impressive catch, he couldn’t dismiss the possibility that his toe might be broken. Although the official diagnosis was not specific, it did eliminate the concern of a fracture, which would have been a more severe injury.

Yet, it is clear that Aaron Judge’s injury is significant enough to keep him out of action for an extended period of time.

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