(Photo credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
New York Yankees superstar right fielder Aaron Judge is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a rib stress fracture on his right side but is expected to return this season, the team announced on Thursday.
Judge, 34, will undergo more testing in approximately four to six weeks to review his progress and determine the steps going forward.
New York's captain sat out the team's three-game series this week against the Cleveland Guardians, who won two of three at Yankee Stadium.
'He's the best hitter in the sport, so you know there's a void there,' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday. 'But we also have really good players that can pick it up, too. I love the way we played the game today, but you're not replacing Aaron Judge.'
Before learning the results of Judge's tests, Boone said the Yankees could be close to getting reinforcements back in the lineup soon. Injured outfielder Jasson Dominguez took batting practice before the Thursday game and will begin a rehab assignment on Friday, according to Boone.
Dominguez sprained the AC joint in his left shoulder when he slammed into the outfield wall while making a leaping catch during the first inning of New York's 9-2 victory over the Texas Rangers four weeks ago.
Giancarlo Stanton is on the injured list with a calf injury. He also took swings against live pitching and is running. If he is able to prove he's healthy with another BP session this week, Boone said his return will be 'in play.'
Boone said earlier this week that Judge had been playing through the injury for weeks. The three-time American League MVP is hitting just .163 with one homer and eight RBIs in 13 games since May 17.
Judge is tied with Ben Rice for the team lead in home runs (17) and has 10 doubles, 38 RBIs and five stolen bases while batting .248 through 59 games.
Judge, a seven-time All-Star, is a lifetime .291 hitter with 385 homers, 868 RBIs, 213 doubles and 70 stolen bases in 1,204 games with the Yankees.
--Field Level Media
