Aaron Judge’s Return to Right Field Causes New Questions as Yankees Battle for Playoffs

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge is back in the right field for the first time since he strained his right flexor tendon in late July. His return, however, has been met with both cheers from fans and questions about his arm strength, which was tested immediately in his first game back.

A Cautious Return to the Outfield

Judge was placed on the injured list following a July 25 series opener against the Phillies after he experienced pain in his right elbow while making a throw at Toronto on July 22. After an extended period as a designated hitter, he returned to right field for the first time on Friday, September 5th, in a series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The first test of his arm came quickly. In the first inning, a two-out, bases-loaded single to shallow right field led to the Blue Jays scoring two runs. Rather than attempting a strong throw home, Judge made a soft, short throw to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. The cautious 67.9 mph throw led to immediate discussion.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented on the situation, saying, “A little bit like a pitcher, starting to through plyometrics and things like that building up to get to the point to where he could start to throw a little bit. And then just gradually building from there, starting to throw bases, getting our infielders involved, just so we could be a little creative with some things.”

On Sunday, September 7, Judge was back in right field and again made some soft throws. A throw to second on a double by Ernie Clement was clocked at 70.7 mph. Despite the caution, Judge made a crucial defensive play, a diving catch on a 106.4 mph sinking liner by George Springer that saved a run and helped the Yankees secure a 4-3 victory. Boone praised the play, stating, “It looked like he good break on it and just made a really quality play, obviously in a big spot there.”

Tipping Pitches and Leading the Lineup

While his defensive return has been closely scrutinized, Judge has found other ways to contribute. In the Sunday victory over the Blue Jays, he helped the Yankees’ offense by signaling Max Scherzer’s pitch-tipping to his teammate Ben Rice. Standing off second base, Judge spread his arms ahead of a pair of Scherzer changeups, a signal from Cody Bellinger, who was on first. This information helped Rice work a full count and eventually hit a three-run home run. Blue Jays manager John Schneider acknowledged the Yankees’ pitch-tipping prowess, saying, “Max has got to be a little bit better. It was obvious in the changeups, Rice just missed one, foul homer, and it’s fair game.”

Since his return from the injured list, Judge has been a primary designated hitter, batting .242 with six homers in 27 games since August 5. His season-long numbers remain impressive, as he is hitting .322 with 43 homers, 97 RBIs, and a league-best 1.105 OPS. His performance has him in an “epic two-horse race” for the AL MVP award against Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who leads the league with 51 home runs.

Looking Ahead to the Postseason

As the Yankees battle for a spot in the playoffs, Judge’s health and performance remain a key storyline. Boone has stated that Judge will not be in right field every day and will likely alternate with Giancarlo Stanton, who has been seeing more time in the outfield. Judge, for his part, remains optimistic, telling reporters, “Everything is feeling pretty good, so if you can throw, you’ve got to get out there.”

The team’s success in the final stretch of the season may hinge on how Judge’s arm responds and if he can continue to contribute in the field while maintaining his offensive output.