Yankees' Aaron Judge Reportedly Won't Play 1B After Return from Elbow Injury, DH Only

The New York Yankees placed superstar Aaron Judge on the 10-day injured list on Sunday due to a right flexor strain, and he'll only be utilized as a designated hitter upon his immediate return.

According to ESPN's Jorge Castillo, "The Yankees are not considering having Judge play first base when he returns from the injured list, a source told ESPN, with the two-time MVP to be slotted at designated hitter until he's given the green light to throw from the outfield."

Per that report, the Yankees are hoping that Judge will be able to resume throwing in around 10-14 days and working toward a return to the outfield from there. In the interim, however, he will go from the injured list directly into a DH role.

"There's the feeling that if he just DH'd now, that he probably would not compromise his UCL," Boone added of Judge. "Obviously, throwing would. That said, there is a gripping component to it and it's probably, obviously, not like the defensive side, but probably somewhat affecting him offensively, too. And then there's the [Giancarlo] component, too. So I think, when you add it all up, this makes the most sense to give this time to calm down a little bit, hopefully heal and then hopefully put us in a better position long term on it."

The situation may force the team's entrenched designated hitter, Giancorlo Stanton, to play in the outfield for a few games. He hasn't done so since 2023 and started the 2025 season with tendon pain in both elbows, though Boone doesn't believe that will affect him out in the field.

"I mean, not right now, no," he told reporters when asked about any concerns in that regard. "We'll see as we go. He'll start working out there this week a little bit. Just to be an option if and when Aaron gets back and however long he has to DH until he gets to the outfield. So, if there's things that come up, then we'll adjust. But I'm not anticipating that."

Stanton has hit well since returning, entering Sunday's contest with a .277 batting average to go along with seven homers, 20 RBI, 13 runs and a .890 OPS in 28 games.

Then there's Judge. Arguably nobody in the sport has been better than Judge this season, who is hitting .342 with 37 homers, 85 RBI, 90 runs and a 1.160 OPS. At this point, he's the favorite to claim his third AL MVP award, even with a brief absence upcoming.