UPDATE: New York Yankees star Aaron Judge will not require surgery on his elbow, a relief for fans and the team alike. However, left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodón underwent surgery this week and is at risk of missing Opening Day 2026.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Thursday that Judge’s throwing was limited after he injured the flexor tendon in his right elbow back in July. After an MRI revealed no need for surgical intervention, Boone declared, “He’ll take some time off and continue to do strengthening things and rehab.” This announcement comes as Judge finished the season strong, leading the majors with a remarkable batting average of .331, an OPS of 1.144, and a total of 53 home runs and 114 RBIs.
Judge suffered the elbow injury while making a throw at Toronto on July 22. He returned from a 10-day injured list stint on August 5 and gradually built up arm strength, culminating in a solid 90.2 mph throw during the AL Division Series opener on September 5. Boone expects Judge to be the Yankees’ everyday right fielder in 2026, though he downplayed speculation about Judge potentially playing first base.
In a concerning turn for the Yankees, Carlos Rodón had surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur. Rodón, who is set to turn 33 in December, will face eight weeks without throwing, which could delay the start of his season by a few weeks. Last season, he recorded an impressive 18-9 record with a 3.09 ERA.
In other news, Boone confirmed that slugger Giancarlo Stanton also avoids surgery on his elbows, which further boosts the Yankees’ roster as they prepare for the upcoming season. Additionally, Boone announced that bullpen coach Mike Harkey and first base/infield coach Travis Chapman will not return for 2026, along with assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler.
As the Yankees navigate these developments, fans will be eagerly watching to see how Judge’s recovery progresses and how the team adapts to Rodón’s potential absence. Stay tuned for the latest updates as the situation unfolds.