Aaron Judge reveals he tore a ligament in his toe, Yankees hopeful he returns in 2023
Judge suffered the injury June 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Aaron Judge's toe injury sounds a lot worse than initially thought.
The New York Yankees star admitted Saturday he actually tore a ligament after he crashed through a wall at Dodger Stadium on June 4. The team originally called the injury a sprain and placed Judge on the injured list two days later on June 6. Judge added that he still has pain in his foot when he walks and didn't know when he would play again this season.
"I'm not giving you any timeline," he said. "There’s no need. I’ve just got to get better and then I'll be out there.
"I don't think too many people in here have torn a ligament in their toe," Judge said. "If it was a quad, we’d have a better answer. If it's an oblique or hamstring, we have answers and a timeline for that. With how unique this injury is, and it being my back foot, which I push off of and run off of, it's a tough spot."
Yankees manager Aaron Boone also refused to give a timeline but said he expects Judge to return this season. However, Boone wouldn't go so far as to assure it.
"That’s an absolute," Boone said about if he could guarantee Judge would play in 2023. "I can't say that about anyone."
Judge said Sunday that, while he was going to do "everything I can to put myself in that position" to return this season, he just has no idea when that will happen.
“I can’t make any promises,” Judge said, via the New York Post. “I wish I had an answer.
“I just feel bad. You guys are looking for answers. That’s your job. You’re reporting. I’ve got no answers. I’m trying to figure stuff out and get through this thing.”
Judge's latest injury has dealt a huge blow to his MVP candidacy and to the Yankees' 2023 season.
While he batted 291/.404/.674 before the injury, Judge no longer leads MLB in home runs or OPS. His 19 home runs now trail five other batters and he's six back from Shohei Ohtani. Judge has already landed on the IL earlier this year and missed 10 games in late April and early May due to a hip injury.
New York, meanwhile, is 11-16 in 27 games without Judge this year, has lost six of its past eight games and now sits third in the AL East with a 41-35 record.
