TAMPA, Fla. — A rare public disagreement between New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone and captain Aaron Judge emerged Tuesday, highlighting potential friction in the clubhouse as the team navigates the crucial stretch.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone created a stir Tuesday when he suggested in a radio interview that Aaron Judge’s throwing arm might not return to full strength this season.
“I don’t think we’re going to see (Judge) throwing like he normally does at any point this year,” Boone said. “We’ve got to feel like he can go out there and be able to protect himself and represent himself.”
"I don't think we're gonna see him back to throwing like he normally does at any point this year, but that's OK too"
The remarks, made on WFAN, came as the Yankees captain continues to recover from a right elbow flexor strain that sidelined him from July 27 to Aug. 5.
This immediately raised questions about the health of the Yankees’ star and whether his return to right field would be delayed or compromised.
Judge fires back at manager’s comments
AP Photo/LM Otero
Hours later, Judge delivered a pointed response that contradicted his manager’s assessment. The Yankees captain expressed confusion and disagreement with Boone’s public evaluation of his recovery progress.
“I don’t know why he said that,” Judge said after completing his throwing session at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “He hasn’t seen me throw for the past two weeks. I’m pretty confident I’ll get back to [100 percent].”
The sharp exchange revealed a disconnect between the team’s leadership structure and raised questions about communication within the organization.
Boone retracts, attempts damage control
Recognizing the gravity of his earlier comments, Boone tried to clarify his remarks during his pregame media session. The manager acknowledged he may have overstated Judge’s condition.
“Maybe that’s a little [overstated],” Boone admitted. “I’m just saying, is he going to come back and be a 70-80 arm that he normally is? I don’t know that I’m expecting that necessarily.”
Boone further explained his position, suggesting his comments were about initial expectations rather than long-term prognosis.
“I think I was trying to say initially, I don’t expect him coming out making Aaron Judge throws that we’ve become accustomed to seeing,” the manager said.
Judge’s throwing progress continues
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Despite the managerial uncertainty, Judge has made steady progress in his recovery from the right flexor strain that landed him on the injured list from July 27 to August 5. The injury occurred during a July 22 game in Toronto when television cameras captured him grimacing after a throw from right field.
Judge’s throwing program has advanced to 150 feet, representing significant improvement since beginning his rehabilitation. The next step involves throwing to bases, though no timeline has been established for that milestone.
“Getting out to 150 [feet] feeling good, so hoping to be back out there soon,” the Yankees captain said. “Just got to be smart with it.”
Captain leads Yankees to historic offensive explosion
The clubhouse tension unfolded against the backdrop of an extraordinary offensive performance Tuesday night. The Yankees tied their franchise record with nine home runs in a dominant 13-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Judge contributed to the historic night by launching his 40th home run of the season, maintaining his status as one of baseball’s premier sluggers despite the ongoing injury concerns. The milestone homer came while serving as the designated hitter, a role he has occupied for 12 consecutive games since returning from the injured list.
The Yankees face ongoing roster construction challenges as they balance Judge’s recovery with Stanton’s physical limitations. Both players represent significant investments who require careful management to remain productive through October.
Boone acknowledged the inherent risks involved in returning Judge to the outfield while emphasizing the team’s cautious approach.
“We’re going to be patient and put him out there when we feel like he’s able to do it and protect himself,” Boone said. “There’s always some level of risk, but I’m waiting on the trainers to say he’s good to go.”
Communication breakdown raises concerns
The public disagreement between Boone and Judge represents an unusual crack in the Yankees’ typically controlled messaging. The organization has historically treated injury specifics with extreme caution, particularly regarding Judge’s health status.
This approach stems from a 2018 incident when Judge broke his wrist and the team’s initial timeline proved inaccurate, leading to increased scrutiny about recovery projections.
Judge maintains cautious optimism amid recovery
Judge injured his arm on July 22 in Toronto when television replays showed him grimacing after a throw from right field. He played two more games before being placed on the injured list. Imaging at the time revealed no acute damage to his ulnar collateral ligament.
Since returning as designated hitter on Aug. 5, Judge has been limited to batting. He entered Tuesday’s opener against Tampa Bay hitting .229 with two home runs and six RBI in 11 games since his activation.
Judge said he remains cautious in his recovery. “I’m not stupid, so I’m going to be cautious with it and make sure we don’t make it worse,” he said. “We’ve got the rest of August, September and October. I’ve got to be out there for all those games. So I’ve just got to be smart with it.”
DH logjam with Stanton in mix
With Judge locked in as the designated hitter, Giancarlo Stanton has been pressed into duty in right field. Stanton played three consecutive games in the outfield earlier this month but then sat out the weekend series in St. Louis because of soreness.
Boone confirmed Tuesday that Stanton would play right field in the opener against Tampa Bay but likely not in the following game.
“He and I talked Sunday and set the plan,” Boone said. “We talked about one of the two and felt like this first one was the best one.”
Judge makes mark with 40th homer
Whatever uncertainty surrounds his throwing arm, Judge continues to deliver at the plate. Hours after addressing Boone’s remarks, the Yankees captain launched his 40th home run of the season in a 13-3 rout of the Rays.
The blast was part of a historic night in which the Yankees matched a franchise record with nine home runs, becoming the first team in MLB history to record multiple nine-homer games in a single season. Judge, Stanton, Cody Bellinger, José Caballero, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice all went deep in the victory.
Judge’s home run gave him 91 RBI on the season and extended his batting average to .333. The outburst underscored his importance to the lineup, even as questions persist about his availability in right field.
No timetable for return to outfield
Neither Boone nor Judge offered a guess as to when he might return to the outfield. Boone said he does not expect Judge to play in the field during the Rays series but left open the possibility of a return against the Boston Red Sox in New York later this week.
Judge, meanwhile, emphasized his focus on being ready for the stretch run.
“I’m not going to be out there and be reckless, just like a guy, if he pulls a hamstring, you don’t expect him to go out there and run 120 percent,” Judge said.
For now, the Yankees will continue to rely on Judge’s bat while managing Stanton’s workload in the field. Whether the captain’s arm will allow him to reclaim his usual spot in right remains the unanswered question.
