What’s Wrong with Aaron Judge?
The answer is a bit complex. Aaron Judge went two months on the IL with a left oblique strain (April 21 to June 21). Many assumed it would be a season ending injury or that we wouldn’t see Judge until the Post-Season. To our surprise and delight, Judge returned early and seemed to be fully healed. Judge left with a .288 BA, but returned looking like the Judge we all know and love. Going 30 for 91, a .330 BA, with six home runs and a .460 OBP.
Reports have circulated that Aaron Judge and Manager Aaron Boone aren’t too worried about his current “slump”; but there should be concern with Judge’s left oblique injury. Although Judge is well enough to play, severe strains of the oblique muscle can take 3–4 months to recover. Sources have noted that Judge may not be 100% recovered, making it difficult for him to pull in his swing and possibly putting him behind on pitches.
Yankees special adviser Carlos Beltran cautioned an oblique injury, especially a severe one, might not fully heal until the off season. Beltran stated, “If he gets to 100 percent, then that’s great. At least in my case, I never got to 100 percent. I felt it through the end. That pain, it won’t go (away) until maybe the end of the season. That’s how oblique’s work. It’s a muscle you use all the time, especially all the power he generates from the right side. It’s a muscle that is active all the time. It’s active when you throw, when you run the base paths.”
Let’s look at Aaron Judge’s numbers:
In 2017 with 542 at bats, Judge had 154 hits, 114 RBI, .284 BA, .422 OBP, .627 SLG, 1.049 OPS. In 2018 with 413 at bats, Judge had 115 hits, 67 RBI, .278 BA, .392 OBP, .528 SLG, .919 OPS. Currently with 248 at bats, Judge has 65 hits, 32 RBI, .262 BA, .387 OBP, .452 SLG, .838 OPS. The numbers are certainly not better then previous years, but for still having a possible strain in his left oblique, they’re not bad numbers! Judge has a better batting average then Brett Gardner (who is batting a .253) and is only .004 below Didi Gregorius (who is batting a .266).
So what’s the problem? In my opinion, absolutely nothing! For playing with a
somewhat healed left oblique strain, the numbers for Judge are better then other players who had a similar injury. To name a couple, in 2017 New York Mets Juan Lagares ended his season with a .250 BA while Kansas City Royals Jorge Soler had a .144 BA. The only concern we should have as Yankees fans is Judge potentially re-injuring that possibly 75% healed oblique. If that gets re-injured, you can guarantee that Judge’s season would be over; and with the run the Yankees are currently on, we will need Judge through the end of the season.
