Aaron Judge Aims for Wild Card Series Return Amidst Calf Injury Uncertainty

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge stated his intention to be ready for the upcoming American League Wild Card series, despite a calf injury that has cast a shadow over the team's postseason prospects. "That’s what the plan is," Judge told ESPN. "Try to get my body ready so I’m ready to go." He aims to be available for Game 1 of the series, scheduled to begin at Yankee Stadium against an as-yet undetermined opponent.

Judge was placed on the injured list on Saturday with a soleus muscle strain in his right calf. This injury affects muscles crucial for running and hitting, elements the Yankees will need from their star player if they aim to advance in the playoffs. He confirmed receiving a Platelet-Poor Plasma (PPP) injection on Monday and is awaiting medical clearance to resume baseball activities.

However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed a different perspective on Tuesday, stating, "We’re planning on him not being a part of that," referring to the Wild Card series. While Boone has not officially ruled Judge out, the team is proceeding with caution. If Judge is not included in the Wild Card roster, he would be ineligible to play until the Yankees advance to the American League Division Series (ALDS), which requires winning the best-of-three Wild Card round.

Judge acknowledged discussions with team decision-makers but deferred to them on roster matters, saying, "I can’t control what people say. So, you’ll have to talk to them about that."

This latest injury follows Judge's return from a three-month absence due to a fractured rib. Although the current calf ailment is not considered as severe as the previous injury, an MRI confirmed the strain's grade, occurring at a critical juncture for the team. Since his return, Judge's performance has been a work in progress; in 24 plate appearances, he recorded one home run and 13 strikeouts.

"We’ve got games to win," Judge asserted. "I’m getting paid to play games for the New York Yankees, so I’ll get back as soon as I can."

The Yankees are likely to face the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card series, a potential rematch from the 2025 postseason.