NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge was sent for imaging after his swings were affected by discomfort in his right shoulder and upper rib area during the Yankees’ recent series in Sacramento, manager Aaron Boone said on Tuesday.
Initial results revealed a bone bruise in his right rib cage, according to the team. Boone said that Judge would be further evaluated by a team physician on Tuesday.
The Yankees captain was not in the lineup for the club’s series opener against the Guardians. Boone said Judge, who had been in the starting lineup every game so far in 2026, could be considered day-to-day.
“Hopefully, we’ve avoided something serious,” Boone said. “But we’ll have an idea more when he meets with the doctor and then as the next couple of days unfold.”
Boone said that Judge has been managing nagging soreness in his right shoulder for “the last couple of weeks,” but the manager said he sensed it appeared to become more of a problem during the series against the Athletics.
Judge went 2-for-12 in the set, driving in four runs.
“The last couple of games in Sacramento, I think it became a little more than that, where I noticed it with some swings and stuff,” Boone said. “I think it was affecting him.”
Boone said Judge could not identify a specific play where the discomfort began. Since May 11, Judge is 14-for-68 (.206) with one home run, eight RBIs and 19 strikeouts.
José Caballero started in right field on Tuesday.
Judge, 34, has won three of the American League’s last four MVP awards (2022, ’24, ’25). He entered Tuesday slashing .248/.375/.533 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs in 59 games.
“Hopefully, it is something that we just get calmed down here and put it behind us,” Boone said.