Aaron Judge ruled out of Yankees ALDS roster due to lingering calf strain
The Yankees' captain and three-time AL MVP has been excluded from the team's 26-man playoff roster for the ALDS against Tampa Bay after a moderate calf strain sustained September 16 did not heal in time. Manager Aaron Boone said Judge wanted to play but decided he needed more recovery time. Judge remains eligible for a potential ALCS if the Yankees advance.
Aaron Judge will not be on the Yankees' roster for the American League Division Series against Tampa Bay, the team announced October 3. The defending champions' captain and three-time AL MVP suffered a moderate strain of the soleus muscle in his right calf on September 16 at Target Field against the Twins. According to MLB.com, a moderate soleus strain typically requires at least three weeks for full recovery. Manager Aaron Boone told ESPN that Judge wanted to be on the roster and was willing to do anything, but Boone decided he was not quite ready. Boone had considered a scenario in which Judge would serve as a pinch-hitter for the two games at Tropicana Field in Tampa, then be prepared to play in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. Instead, Boone determined that Judge would benefit more from using that time for rehab and recovery, according to MLB.com. Judge missed 84 games earlier in the 2026 season with a fractured right rib before returning on September 8. He played seven games before the calf injury. In 66 regular-season games, Judge slashed .241/.360/.511 with 18 home runs and an .871 OPS. The Yankees adjusted their roster composition for the ALDS, opting for an 11-man pitching staff and adding left-hander Ryan Weathers while leaving off infielder-outfielder Amed Rosario, per MLB.com. The team has designated hitter options including Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt. Giancarlo Stanton, who missed most of the season with multiple calf injuries, was active for the Wild Card Series and is on the ALDS roster, according to MLB.com. Judge remains eligible to be added to the roster for a potential AL Championship Series should the Yankees advance past Tampa Bay.
Aaron Judge's strained right calf has not healed sufficiently for inclusion on the Yankees' 26-man ALDS roster, though he is eligible for the ALCS if the team advances.
Judge's availability for the ALCS depends on how the calf responds in the coming days and whether the Yankees advance. The decision whether to activate him before Game 1 of a potential matchup against the ALCS winner will test whether Boone's caution proves correct or whether the team needed its best hitter sooner.
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