Yankees Slugger Aaron Judge Sidelined Long-Term with Rib Stress Fracture

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge will be sidelined for an extended period due to a stress fracture in his first right rib.

This development brings a new dynamic to the American League home run race.

MLB.com reported the diagnosis on June 5 (KST), citing an official announcement from the Yankees.

Judge will undergo limited activity and rest for the time being, with plans to undergo further medical evaluation in 4 to 6 weeks to determine his return timeline.

Judge, who had been experiencing discomfort in his rib area for the past few weeks, was initially diagnosed with a rib contusion. However, subsequent detailed examinations revealed a stress fracture that requires rest.

While it is expected that Judge will return to the lineup this year, the exact timing remains uncertain at this moment.

Judge, a three-time American League home run leader (2017, 2022, and 2024), has hit 17 home runs this year, ranking fourth in the category.

However, he has seen a sharp decline in performance since May 12, when he first felt discomfort in his ribs while swinging, recording only one home run, eight RBIs, and a .206 batting average since then.

With Judge sidelined, the American League home run race is expected to be led by Yordan Alvarez (21 home runs, Houston Astros) and Munetaka Murakami (20 home runs, Chicago White Sox).

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.