NEW YORK — Aaron Judge’s omission from the Yankees’ postseason introductions now has an explanation. His absence from their lineup still has no confirmed end date.
Manager Aaron Boone attributed the captain’s missed ceremony to treatment following his on-field workout. Judge subsequently traveled to Somerset for live batting practice Wednesday as he continued recovering from a strained right calf.
The Yankees then gave him another opportunity to return. Their 9-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox completed a two-game Wild Card Series sweep and secured an AL Division Series matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays beginning Saturday.
Whether Judge joins that roster remains undecided.
The controversy over name omission
Aaron Judge’s absence from the Yankees’ postseason introductions raised questions because other inactive players participated despite missing the Wild Card roster.
MLB.com reporter Bryan Hoch noted the unexpected omission while both teams stood along the baselines.
“Red Sox and Yankees are on the baseline. Odd that Aaron Judge wasn’t introduced. Other inactive members of the team were,” Hoch wrote.
Judge later appeared in the dugout, but the Yankees had not publicly explained his absence by Wednesday morning. His calf injury accounted for his exclusion from the active roster, yet that alone did not explain the ceremony decision.
With other unavailable teammates receiving introductions, the captain’s absence attracted attention and left an unanswered question about why he had missed the team’s opening postseason ceremony.
Boone explains the absence that sparked questions
Judge did not join teammates along the first-base line before Tuesday’s series opener. His absence drew attention because other Yankees who were not on the active roster participated.
He appeared in the dugout afterward, leaving questions about why the captain had missed the ceremony.
Boone addressed the issue Wednesday.
“I think he was getting treatment,” Boone said.
That explanation updates the original account, which reported that the Yankees had not publicly addressed the omission. There is no established evidence that Judge skipped introductions to protest being left off the Wild Card roster.
The ceremony and roster decisions also involved different considerations. Treatment accounted for his pregame absence, according to Boone. His calf injury kept him unavailable for the series.
Somerset workout moves Judge’s comeback forward
Judge took live batting practice at the Yankees’ Double-A ballpark Wednesday after facing teammates during Monday’s workout at Yankee Stadium.
He also ran in the outfield before Tuesday’s game. Those activities marked progress, but they did not establish that he could handle a postseason game.
Asked Wednesday about Judge’s potential availability for the next round, Boone remained cautious.
“Probably too early to tell,” Boone said.
Judge has been sidelined since Sept. 16. The three-time American League MVP played only 66 regular-season games, finishing with a .241 average, 18 home runs, 41 RBIs and an .871 OPS.
A fractured rib had already cost him much of the season before the calf injury interrupted his September return.
Running and Tampa Bay’s turf complicate the decision
Hitting is only part of Judge’s return assessment.
He said after Wednesday’s clincher that he had not run the bases during his Somerset session. His ability to run and withstand the demands of playing right field remains central to the roster decision.
The ALDS also introduces another consideration: Tropicana Field’s artificial turf. Boone acknowledged before Game 2 that the surface could complicate the evaluation.
Using Judge at designated hitter could offer a different route into the lineup. However, that would affect the Yankees’ existing first-base and DH arrangements involving Ben Rice, Luis García Jr. and Paul Goldschmidt.
A return to right field would give Boone more flexibility. The Yankees still need to determine whether Judge can perform that role.
Boston sweep gives Yankees another chance to activate their captain
New York advanced without Judge, outscoring Boston 18-2 across the two games.
Max Fried delivered six innings of one-run ball Wednesday, while Cody Bellinger’s three-run homer helped finish the sweep.
Judge participated in the clubhouse celebration, but he offered no guarantee that he would be ready Saturday.
For the Yankees, the next decision concerns his readiness for the ALDS. Boone has explained the missed introductions. Judge’s recovery must now answer the more consequential question of when he can play.
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