Aaron Judge Ruled Out of Yankees' AL Division Series Against Rays

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge has been excluded from the team's roster for the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays as he continues to recover from a calf injury. This marks a significant blow to the Yankees' postseason aspirations.

Judge has not played since September 16. While he participated in live batting practice on Thursday at Yankee Stadium and underwent workouts on Friday at the team's spring training facility in Tampa, he has not progressed enough to be cleared for the series.

This season has been hampered by injuries for the three-time American League MVP. He was previously sidelined from May 31 to September 8 with a fractured rib. Following his return, he played in only seven games before sustaining the calf strain on September 16.

In a limited 66-game season, Judge posted a .241 batting average with 18 home runs, 41 RBIs, and an .871 OPS. His performance in September saw a dip, with a .174 average, one home run, and three RBIs in the month.