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The New York Yankees could be the best team in the American League in 2026.
First baseman Ben Rice has been one of the best hitters in baseball through the first third of the season. Gerrit Cole is finally back on a big league mound for the first time since 2024. Cam Schlitter has been outstanding, Cody Bellinger has been excellent in his second season in the Bronx.
But it’s no secret that the Yankees will only go as far as Aaron Judge takes them. The global superstar, at the start of the season, looked like he might be on his way to another record-breaking season. But he fell, at least by his standards, in May, posting “only” an .805 OPS.
On Thursday we might have found out why.
NEW YORK YANKEES RECEIVE BAD NEWS ABOUT AARON JUDGE’S MYSTERIOUS INJURY: ‘WE JUST WANT CLARITY’
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees sits in the dugout before a game against the A’s at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, on May 29, 2026. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Judge, for the first time this season, did not play in Tuesday’s game. And the Yankees didn’t explain exactly why. On Wednesday, Aaron Boone admitted there was some uncertainty about what exactly the problem was.
“He will return to take more images,” said the Yankees manager he told reporters after Wednesday’s game. “They just want to get some more specific locations, so we’ll have more information on that later.”
“We just want clarity on what exactly we are dealing with,” he added. “Then we can set the course of action and have an idea of what the timeline will be.”
On Thursday they got that clarity. And while it could have been worse for New York, it could also have been much better.
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New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge bats during practice before the game against the A’s at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California, on May 30, 2026. (Neville E. Guardia/Image Images)
The Yankees announced Thursday night that Judge had been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side. It is expected to keep him out indefinitely, although he will be re-examined in about 4 to 6 weeks to see how he is progressing. It’s not ideal.
But the silver lining for the Yankees organization and its fans is that Judge “is expected to return at some point this season,” according to the team’s statement.
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Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees watches from the dugout against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium in New York City on June 2, 2026. The Guardians defeated the Yankees 9-4. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
New York has the advantage of playing in a weak American League, which practically guarantees it a postseason berth. Even without Judge for much of the rest of the season. But the surprising Tampa Bay Rays are clinging to first place in the American League East, and losing the division could jeopardize a potential first-round bye. And of course, if he doesn’t recover as expected, this could turn into a season-ending injury.
Still, if Judge recovers and returns before October, it instantly makes the Yankees favorites to make a deep run. Even injured, he was one of the best hitters in baseball. Healthy? It’s a monster.
