Aaron Judge Injured, Latest Updates on Yankees Star's Timeline to Return Ahead of 2026 MLB Playoffs

Just over a week after he returned from a rib injury that kept him out for most of the season, Aaron Judge is heading back to the injured list.

Judge is being placed on the 10-day IL with a calf strain, the New York Yankees announced Friday.

Judge left Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning because of right lower leg tightness. He said after the game that he felt something during the first inning and eventually decided he should come out.

Judge went 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts before he exited the game. Heliot Ramos pinch-hit for him.

Judge suffered a rib injury in late May and missed more than three months of action, finally making his return last Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies. Since returning, he's gone 4-for-21 with a home run and three RBI, clearly still working his way back to 100 percent.

After his return, the three-time AL MVP addressed having to get back into shape while simultaneously helping the Yankees fight for ideal playoff seeding.

"I get paid to do this, so I gotta go do it," Judge told reporters. "That's the end of it. I get paid to go out there and give my best to the New York Yankees and these fans. So, you get paid to win games so you gotta keep going out there and winning games."

Luckily for Judge, New York managed to stay afloat during his absence. The Yankees are sitting in second place in the AL East and secured a spot in the postseason earlier this week.

The Bronx Bombers are six games ahead of the Boston Red Sox and should be able to secure the top wild-card spot.

Even though New York has guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, Judge's injury is worrisome. The Yankees may have managed when he was gone, but making a World Series push without their star would be a different story.

With Judge heading back to the injured list, the Yankees will hope their star slugger can return to the lineup sooner rather than later as New York battles for playoff position in the AL East.