Aaron Judge injury update: Yankees' star placed on IL with elbow issue

Aaron Judge is on pace for a historic season at the dish. But, for now, his dominance has been put on pause.

The Yankees slugger, leading MLB in batting average (.342), on-base percentage (.449), slugging percentage (.711) and OPS (1.160), was absent from Saturday's lineup against the Phillies as he deals with an "elbow issue." It marked just the second game Judge has missed all season.

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Here's the latest on Judge's elbow injury.

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Aaron Judge injury update

UPDATE: After Saturday's game, Boone revealed Judge has no damage to UCL but is dealing with a flexor strain. He will go on the injured list.

Breaking: Aaron Judge has a flexor strain and will be going on the injured list, but his UCL is intact, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. pic.twitter.com/WLdIn8Fzn9

— ESPN (@espn) July 26, 2025

Judge said on Saturday that he was hoping to avoid the IL and serve as the Yankees' designated hitter while his elbow heals. Boone added that his star player will be the DH when he returns, forcing Giancarlo Stanton either to the bench or into the outfield.

"I was reluctant about going on the IL... If I can hit, let me hit."

Aaron Judge says he can't throw, but he wanted to keep playing as the DH pic.twitter.com/9pls6knwHB

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 26, 2025

Boone said Saturday that Judge was taken out of the team's lineup for an afternoon matchup vs. Philadelphia due to a right elbow "issue." The manager explained that Judge "couldn't throw well from the outfield" in Friday night's loss, experiencing discomfort in his throwing elbow. While the team awaited the results of imaging completed on Saturday, Boone said, "Hopefully, it's something that's manageable and we can get through it."

Aaron Boone gives an update on Aaron Judge. pic.twitter.com/D7bDNHYO2U

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 26, 2025

Friday was also the second time this week that Judge noticed the elbow discomfort. The first time was on Tuesday against the Blue Jays, which resulted in him starting as a designated hitter on Wednesday before returning to right field on Friday. Boone added that Judge hitting didn't seem to cause the injury to flare up as much as throwing.

When asked if he had any fear that Judge's injury could be related to his UCL, Boone said "I don't know."

Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reported Saturday that Judge is set to visit with team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad later in the day to go over the imaging on his elbow.

Coming into Saturday, the Yankees are 5.5 games back in the AL East to the Blue Jays after leading the division for the first portion of the 2025 season. 

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How did Aaron Judge get hurt?

Boone said that Judge first noticed the pain in his elbow after a throw from the outfield vs. Toronto on Tuesday.

That play appears to have come in the seventh inning, when he made a catch in right field then fired a throw into second base. Judge was seen wincing after the throw.

Here’s the play in Toronto on Tuesday where Aaron Judge was wincing after a throw back to the infield.

Aaron Boone said Judge felt better on the off day, but then last night he was “really dealing with it” and “couldn’t throw well from the outfield.”pic.twitter.com/fRWa26HK2w

— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) July 26, 2025

Aaron Judge stats

Judge is the leading candidate to earn the 2025 AL MVP award, which would be his third time claiming the honor.

Here's a full look at his offensive numbers this season: