Aaron Judge, former Glacier Pilots (2011) player, news
Aaron Judge diagnosed with a mild PCL sprain and bone bruise
The Lohud Yankees Blog | Chad Jennings, cjennings@lohud.com
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge during a spring training baseball workout Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (Photo: Chris O'Meara, AP)
The Yankees announced that top outfield prospect Aaron Judge has been diagnosed with a mild PCL sprain and bone bruise of the left knee. He has been placed on the Triple-A disabled list and will not participate in the Triple-A All-Star Game festivities next week.
Judge will not do any baseball activities "for an undetermined amount of time," according to the team's announcement.
An MRI was performed today to examine an injury Judge suffered on Friday night. He made one diving play in the outfield, then he came up limping while running to first base later in the game. The Yankees made no definitive statement about which play actually caused the injury, but their announcement specifically mentioned both the dive and the run to first base.
Judge was just named the International League Player of the Month for June after he hit .343/.477/.686 with nine home runs in the month. Judge had just one hit in his past four games before the injury, but last month made a significant statement, and Baseball America ranked him within the top 50 of its Midseason Top 100 Prospects list released on Friday.
For however long Judge is out, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will still have Jake Cave, Ben Gamel and Cesar Puello in a crowded and productive outfield. First baseman Tyler Austin can play there as well. Worth wondering if the injury could open at-bats and playing time for Mason Williams, who's currently playing out a rehab assignment while working his way back from shoulder surgery.
Of course, those are secondary concerns. Judge had been so productive in the past month, that he was beginning to look like a call-up candidate, especially if the Yankees sell at the deadline and open playing time in the outfield. For now, they'll wait to see how long it takes him to get back on the field.
