Aaron Judge Could Join Arizona Fall League to Prove Fitness for ALCS
A stint in the Arizona Fall League could allow Aaron Judge to demonstrate his recovery from a calf strain and gain at-bats against live pitching.
NEW YORK – As the New York Yankees potentially advance to the American League Championship Series, a less conventional path could allow star slugger Aaron Judge to prove his readiness after a right calf strain: joining the Arizona Fall League.
If the Yankees secure a spot in the ALCS, Judge could play a few games for the Salt River Rafters, an Arizona Fall League team. This move would serve a dual purpose: it would allow him to demonstrate his mobility and recovery to team medical staff and provide him with live at-bats against Major League-caliber pitching, rather than relying solely on simulated hitting sessions.
The Arizona Fall League commenced its schedule on Saturday, coinciding with the start of the AL Division Series between the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays.
This approach has historical precedent. In 2024, Mets player Jeff McNeil fractured his wrist in early September. With the Mets progressing through the playoffs, he had sufficient time to recover and played two games in the Arizona Fall League, making him eligible for the NLCS.
Judge has expressed a desire to win a championship after a decade in the league without one, indicating he would do everything possible to play if healthy. The Arizona Fall League option presents an "outside-the-box" method for him to validate his physical condition should the Yankees reach the ALCS.