The New York Yankees enter the final month of the regular season with a comfortable position atop the American League wild-card race, putting them on course for October baseball in the Bronx.
However, manager Aaron Boone’s team has had to navigate a difficult summer, largely because of the prolonged absence of three-time MVP Aaron Judge. Judge has been sidelined since May 31 with a severe stress fracture in his right first rib, leaving a major hole in the Yankees’ lineup. Before the injury, he hit 17 home runs and posted a .907 OPS in his first 59 games of the season.
Yankees Face Lineup Decision Ahead of Aaron Judge’s Return
While the supporting cast has worked to keep New York competitive, the team’s hopes of making another World Series run depend heavily on getting its captain back before the postseason begins.
As the Yankees prepare for Judge’s expected return in September, the club faces a roster dilemma involving trade-deadline acquisition Luis García Jr. García has made an immediate impact in the Bronx, giving Boone a much-needed offensive boost during the most challenging part of the summer.
If the Yankees protect Judge by using him exclusively as the designated hitter because of concerns about his ribs, they could leave one of their hottest hitters without a regular place in the starting lineup.
The best way to keep García’s bat in the lineup while restoring Judge to the starting nine would be to return Judge to right field. Although protecting a player recovering from a serious injury remains a priority, putting Judge back in the field also makes strategic sense.
Judge is not a defensive liability. He has consistently ranked among Major League Baseball’s best defensive right fielders and provides a Gold Glove-caliber presence that can influence how opposing teams approach the bases.
Completely shielding a superstar from physical contact is also impossible in professional baseball. Judge could absorb an awkward jolt while sliding into a base or suffer a similar impact while tracking a ball in the gap. The Yankees therefore must balance careful injury management with the need to maximize their offensive firepower.
New York may prefer to use a slightly rusty Judge in right field rather than limit him to designated-hitter duties, which would disrupt the lineup and potentially force García out of the starting nine. That September decision could determine whether the Yankees remain playoff contenders or emerge as World Series champions.
Source: www.marca.com
