By MAX WINTERS, US DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR
Published: | Updated:
Yankees star Aaron Judge won’t need surgery on his elbow but shortstop Anthony Volpe and left-hander Carlos Rodon had operations this week and could be sidelined until May.
The $360million superstar’s throwing was limited after the two-time AL MVP hurt the flexor tendon in his right elbow in July.
Manager Aaron Boone said Thursday an MRI after the team was eliminated last week showed ‘no surgery is going to be needed.’
‘He´ll take some time off and continue to do strengthening things and rehab and stuff, but felt like he finished the season in a pretty good place as we saw continued improvements,’ Boone said.
Judge hurt his elbow making a throw at Toronto on July 22. The 33-year-old came back on August 5 from a 10-day stint on the injured list caused by the strained flexor tendon in his right elbow and threw gingerly upon his outfield return on September 5.
Judge led the major leagues with a .331 average and 1.145 OPS, hitting 53 home runs with 114 RBIs and 124 walks. He hit .500 with one homer, seven RBIs and four walks in the postseason.
Yankees star Aaron Judge won’t need surgery on his elbow in a huge boost to the slugger
Aaron Judge, with wife Samantha Bracksieck, hurt his elbow making a throw at Toronto in July
Volpe and Rodon are projected to start the season on the injured list and could be sidelined until May, however.
Volpe, the Yankees shortstop since 2023, had arthroscopic surgery Tuesday with head team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad to repair the labrum in his left shoulder.
Boone said Volpe can start hitting in four months but can’t dive on the shoulder for six months.
‘The cleanup was more severe than the MRI result,’ Cashman said.
Rodon was operated on Wednesday by Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur. He has eight weeks of no throwing.
Giancarlo Stanton, who didn’t make his season debut until June 16 because of right and left elbow epicondylitis, does not need surgery.
‘He’s in a pretty good place,’ Boone said. ‘He’ll treat it and everything but nothing expected for Big G.’
New York has a record 27 World Series titles but none since 2009. After beating Boston in the Wild Card Series, the Yankees lost a four-game Division Series to Toronto.
After losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series, New York started the season 35-20, slumped during a 25-34 stretch as its bullpen struggled, then closed 34-14 and lost the AL East to Toronto on a tiebreaker.
