Aaron Judge’s absence from the New York Yankees’ pregame introductions raised eyebrows before their American League Wild Card Series opener against the Boston Red Sox. With the captain watching from the dugout rather than standing alongside his teammates, questions quickly emerged about why he missed the ceremony.
Manager Aaron Boone has now provided an explanation. Judge was receiving treatment for his right calf strain when the Yankees took the field for introductions ahead of Tuesday’s Game 1.
Boone said he was unaware Judge would miss the moment until it happened. The manager also noted that some injured players were not involved in the ceremony.
The explanation puts to rest speculation surrounding Judge’s absence. The three-time American League MVP has been working toward a return after suffering a moderate right calf strain on Sept. 16 against the Minnesota Twins.
Judge was left off the Yankees’ 26-man roster for the Wild Card round because the team did not believe he was ready to contribute. However, he has continued making progress through workouts and live batting practice.
On Wednesday, Judge traveled to Somerset, New Jersey, to take live at-bats against pitchers from the Yankees’ stay-ready group, including Luis Gil and Eli Morgan. Boone described the workout as another step in the recovery process.
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The Yankees advanced to the American League Division Series after sweeping Boston, winning Game 2 by a 9-2 score. Judge watched from the dugout and celebrated with his teammates after the series-clinching victory.
His availability for the next round remains uncertain. New York is scheduled to face the Tampa Bay Rays in a best-of-five series beginning Saturday.
Boone has acknowledged that Judge has made significant progress, but the team still needs to evaluate whether he can handle the demands of postseason play. For now, the captain’s treatment and recovery remain the priority as the Yankees prepare for their next challenge.
