Saturday’s game was chaos at Yankee Stadium and its surroundings. The morning began with news that resonated not only in the Yankees organization, but throughout baseball, when it was revealed that the two-time MVP Aaron Judge was removed from the lineup with an elbow injury, a situation that could end Judge’s season with Tommy John surgery.
Next came the game of the day against the Philadelphia Phillies, where the visitors had won 12-5 the night before. The second game of the series did not go any better for the New Yorkers, who showed their support for the Judge, but at the end of the nine innings they fell again by a score of 9-4. As a final blow, the Boston Red Sox won their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, putting them one game away from knocking the Yankees out of third place in the American League East.
Aaron Boone sends message to Yankees fans with encouraging news
Then, after the game, there was an announcement from manager Aaron Boone about the health of Aaron Judge that provided at least some relief for the Yankees and their fans, but could also have implications. The New York manager told reporters that “The Judge” would not need surgery on his right elbow, but the hitter who earlier this month reached the 350-home run mark faster than any other slugger in Major League Baseball history will need a trip to the 10-day disabled list.
Judge’s diagnosis was a flexor muscle strain, according to ESPN.com reporter Jorge Castillo, but his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) was not damaged. A torn UCL is the specific injury that requires Tommy John surgery, better known as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. The slugger is expected to return in 10 days, but will be as a designated hitter in the hope of being able to return to the outfield after improving his performance on pitches.
Aaron Judge’s injury could have future implications
But MLB expert Jeff Passan noted that the diagnosis of flexor strain, while clearly not the worst possible news, could be a harbinger of more serious future problems for Judge. “The flexor mass is the set of forearm muscles that connects to the elbow and acts as a brake to relieve tension on the ulnar collateral ligament. This type of injury usually heals with rest. The downtime varies and depends on the severity of the strain”.
The exact severity of Judge’s flexor strain was not a topic addressed by Boone’s announcement. Sports medicine specialist Jesse Morse, who posted on his social media account that the flexor strain can indeed lead to future Tommy John surgery, “if they’re not smart and allow him to continue pitching.”
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