Aaron Judge will not play in the New York Yankees’ American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox.
The Yankees officially left their captain off the 26-man roster for the best-of-three series on September 29, ending Judge’s aggressive attempt to return less than two weeks after suffering a moderate strain of the soleus muscle in his right calf. [MLB]
Judge had progressed far enough to take live batting practice and repeatedly made clear that he wanted to play. The bigger problem was running: Judge had not resumed normal outdoor running or cutting on the bases by the day before Game 1. [MLB]
The immediate question has therefore changed. Judge is officially out against Boston. His new target is a potential return for the American League Division Series if the Yankees advance. [Reuters]
Is Aaron Judge Playing In The Wild Card Series?
No.
The Yankees submitted their 26-man roster before Game 1 against Boston without Judge.
That means Judge cannot play at any point during the Wild Card Series, even if his calf improves dramatically while the series is being played. [AP]
The Wild Card Series is a best-of-three beginning September 29 at Yankee Stadium.
If New York advances, however, the Yankees can submit a new roster for the Division Series and add Judge if he is healthy enough to play.
Why Did The Yankees Leave Aaron Judge Off The Playoff Roster?
Judge made significant progress with his hitting, but he had not completed the running progression necessary to demonstrate that his calf could handle a major league game.
Judge had been running on an anti-gravity treadmill, which reduces the amount of body weight placed on the legs. But as of the Yankees’ September 28 workout, he had not attempted normal outdoor running or cutting on the basepaths. [MLB]
He also did not run on the field after taking live batting practice.
That was a significant hurdle because Judge would need his calf not only to swing a bat but also to accelerate out of the batter’s box, run the bases, stop and change direction.
What Is Aaron Judge’s Injury?
Judge has a strain of the soleus muscle in his right calf.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has characterized the injury as a “moderate” strain. The Yankees have not publicly announced a numerical grade for the injury. [MLB]
The soleus is one of the primary muscles in the calf. It sits underneath the larger gastrocnemius muscle and plays an important role in walking, running and pushing through the foot and ankle. [Cleveland Clinic]
When Did Aaron Judge Hurt His Calf?
Judge suffered the injury during the Yankees’ September 16 game against the Minnesota Twins.
He experienced stiffness in his lower right leg during the first inning but initially attempted to remain in the game.
Judge struck out in his first two plate appearances before the Yankees eventually removed him for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.
An MRI later revealed the calf strain, and Judge was placed on the 10-day injured list. [AP]
How Serious Is Aaron Judge’s Calf Injury?
The Yankees have described it as a moderate soleus strain.
Boone has not publicly identified the injury as a specific Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3 strain, so assigning it a numerical grade would be speculative.
MLB reported that an injury of this type normally requires at least approximately three weeks to heal fully. Judge was attempting to accelerate that timetable because the injury occurred immediately before the postseason. [MLB]
The Yankees ultimately decided that less than two weeks was not enough time for Judge to demonstrate that he was ready for postseason competition.
Did Aaron Judge Take Batting Practice?
Yes.
Judge made substantial progress at the plate during the final days before the Wild Card Series.
He hit and threw indoors on September 27 before taking live batting practice on the field September 28.
Judge faced teammates Ryan Weathers and Elmer Rodríguez for four plate appearances. He drew two walks, hit a ground ball back to the mound and took a called third strike. [AP]
The workout demonstrated that Judge could face live pitching.
It did not answer the more difficult question involving his calf: whether he could safely run at game speed.
Why Was Running More Important Than Batting Practice?
A calf injury can affect almost every movement Judge would have to make once he puts the ball in play.
He would need to explode out of the batter’s box, accelerate toward first base, potentially sprint for extra bases and stop or change direction while running.
Judge also made clear that his goal was to return as a right fielder rather than merely serve as a designated hitter or pinch hitter. [MLB]
Playing the outfield would create additional demands because Judge could be required to sprint, change direction and react suddenly to balls in play.
Why Didn’t The Yankees Just Use Judge As A Designated Hitter?
Using Judge as the DH would eliminate the defensive demands of playing right field, but it would not eliminate running.
A designated hitter still has to run to first base, advance on hits and potentially sprint at maximum effort during close plays.
The Yankees therefore still needed confidence that Judge’s calf could withstand those movements.
Judge himself also said that when he returns, his plan is to play right field rather than restrict himself to designated hitter or pinch-hitting duty. [MLB]
Did Aaron Judge Try To Convince The Yankees To Let Him Play?
Yes.
Judge made no secret of his desire to play against Boston.
He participated in workouts and live batting practice while making his case to Boone, the Yankees’ medical staff and other team decision-makers.
Judge said he had been doing “a lot of convincing,” but he also acknowledged that the Yankees needed to consider the possibility of a longer postseason run and make sure he was healthy enough for it. [Reuters]
The Yankees ultimately chose the more conservative option.
Did Aaron Judge Get An Injection For The Injury?
Yes.
Judge received a platelet-poor plasma injection in his injured right calf on September 21. [AP]
The treatment was intended to aid the healing process.
Judge initially had very limited activity following the injection before gradually progressing back to hitting and throwing.
Can Aaron Judge Be Added During The Wild Card Series?
No, not as a normal roster move.
Postseason rosters are set separately for each round.
Because Judge was left off New York’s Wild Card Series roster, the Yankees cannot simply activate him for Game 2 or Game 3 because his calf suddenly feels better.
His next normal opportunity to join the postseason roster would come before the Division Series if New York eliminates Boston.
Could Aaron Judge Return For The ALDS?
Yes.
That is now the next realistic target.
Judge will continue rehabilitating his calf while the Yankees play Boston. Reuters reported that he hopes to be activated if New York advances to the American League Division Series. [Reuters]
Being eligible for the ALDS does not guarantee that Judge will play.
He still needs to demonstrate that he can run, accelerate, stop and change direction without placing his calf at unacceptable risk.
Why Could Missing The Wild Card Series Help Judge Return Later?
Leaving Judge off the Wild Card roster guarantees him several additional days of recovery.
That is significant because he suffered the injury on September 16.
Trying to play September 29 would have meant returning only 13 days after suffering a moderate calf strain.
Waiting until a potential Division Series would move Judge closer to the normal recovery window referenced by MLB and provide additional time to progress from controlled treadmill work to normal running and baseball activity. [MLB]
What Happens If The Yankees Lose To Boston?
Judge’s season is over.
The Wild Card Series is best-of-three, and the losing team is eliminated from the postseason.
Because Judge is not on the roster, he cannot participate in the series. His only path back into a game during the 2026 season requires the Yankees to advance without him.
Who Will Replace Aaron Judge In The Yankees Lineup?
The Yankees will have to construct their Wild Card lineup without their captain, but they did receive reinforcements elsewhere.
Giancarlo Stanton was included on the Wild Card roster after being sidelined since April 24 by calf injuries, and center fielder Trent Grisham also made the roster after dealing with a right hamstring strain. [AP]
New York carried 15 position players for the series.
No individual player can realistically reproduce everything Judge provides, so the Yankees will have to replace his production collectively.
How Big A Loss Is Aaron Judge For The Yankees?
Judge remains one of the most dangerous power hitters in baseball, but his 2026 season has been heavily disrupted by injuries.
He appeared in only 66 games, batting .241 with a .360 on-base percentage, .511 slugging percentage, 18 home runs and 41 RBIs. [Reuters]
Those totals are dramatically lower than a normal full season for Judge primarily because he missed more than three months with a separate rib injury.
Was Aaron Judge Already Injured Earlier In 2026?
Yes.
The calf strain is Judge’s second significant injury of the season.
He suffered a fracture of his first right rib and was sidelined from May 31 until September 8. [AP]
Judge returned to the Yankees for only seven games before injuring his calf.
The rib fracture and calf strain are separate injuries.
How Did Judge Play After Returning From The Rib Injury?
Judge struggled during his brief return.
He hit .174 with one home run and three RBIs in seven September games before suffering the calf strain. [Reuters]
The small sample came after more than three months without major league game action.
Why Is The Yankees’ Decision Important Beyond The Wild Card Series?
The Yankees had to weigh the potential value of Judge in a maximum three-game series against the possibility of aggravating the injury and losing him for the remainder of October.
Judge acknowledged that calculation himself when discussing his attempted comeback. He said the goal was to make sure he was healthy and ready for what he hopes will be a month-long postseason run. [Reuters]
Leaving him off the Wild Card roster sacrifices the possibility of using him against Boston but gives the calf additional time to heal before a potential ALDS.
Aaron Judge Injury Timeline
- May 31: Judge begins lengthy absence because of a fractured right rib.
- September 8: Judge returns to the Yankees lineup after a 99-day absence.
- September 16: Judge experiences right calf stiffness against Minnesota and leaves the game.
- After September 16: MRI confirms a right calf strain.
- September 21: Judge receives a platelet-poor plasma injection.
- September 27: Judge hits and throws indoors as his rehabilitation progresses.
- September 28: Judge takes four plate appearances in live batting practice.
- September 29: Yankees officially leave Judge off their 26-man Wild Card Series roster.
- Next possible return: American League Division Series, if the Yankees advance and Judge is medically ready.
Aaron Judge Calf Injury FAQ
What injury does Aaron Judge have?
Judge has a moderate strain of the soleus muscle in his right calf.
When did Aaron Judge get hurt?
He suffered the injury during the Yankees’ September 16 game against the Minnesota Twins.
Is Aaron Judge playing against the Red Sox?
No. The Yankees left Judge off their 26-man roster for the AL Wild Card Series. [AP]
Can Judge return for Game 2 or Game 3?
No. Because he is not on the Wild Card Series roster, he cannot simply be added during the round if his calf improves.
Did Judge take batting practice?
Yes. Judge took four plate appearances during live batting practice on September 28, drawing two walks while also recording a ground ball and called strikeout. [MLB]
Has Judge started running?
Judge had been running on an anti-gravity treadmill, but MLB reported that he had not progressed to normal outdoor running or cutting on the basepaths before the Wild Card roster decision. [MLB]
Did Judge receive an injection?
Yes. He received a platelet-poor plasma injection in the calf on September 21.
Could Aaron Judge return for the ALDS?
Yes. If the Yankees eliminate Boston, they can submit a new roster for the Division Series and add Judge if his calf has progressed sufficiently. Judge will continue rehabbing with that possibility in mind. [Reuters]
What happens if the Yankees lose the Wild Card Series?
Judge’s 2026 season ends because the Yankees would be eliminated before he has another opportunity to be added to a postseason roster.
When Will Aaron Judge Play Again?
The Yankees do not yet have a confirmed return date for Judge.
What is now certain is that he will not play in the Wild Card Series against Boston. The Yankees decided that his progress at the plate was not enough to overcome the remaining questions about his ability to run safely on the injured calf. [MLB]
Judge’s rehabilitation will continue while his teammates attempt to advance without him.
If the Yankees reach the ALDS, New York gets another opportunity to set its 26-man roster. That is now Judge’s earliest realistic path back onto the field.
If the Yankees do not advance, Judge’s injury-shortened 2026 season will be over.
