Aaron Judge Placed on IL, Yankees Face Postseason Dilemma

Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees' star outfielder, has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain, casting significant uncertainty over his availability for the postseason. The team announced the move on September 19, 2026, with the designation backdated to September 17, making Judge eligible for activation on September 27, the final day of the regular season. Judge was removed from the Yankees' game against the Minnesota Twins on September 16 after experiencing tightness in his lower right leg during the first inning. He told reporters afterward that he tried to play through the discomfort before reporting it to manager Aaron Boone. "Once you start ramping up, things pop up," Judge said. "Hopefully, it's just one little thing and we're back out there soon." The injury comes as Judge was working to regain his timing after missing more than three months earlier in the season due to a right rib stress fracture. He returned on September 8 and appeared in seven games, batting .174 with one home run and three RBIs. His latest setback now threatens to disrupt the Yankees' playoff plans.