NEW YORK – Yankees star Aaron Judge was forced to leave the game early after being hit by a pitch on Tuesday during New York’s 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Judge took a fastball to the hand while at bat, causing concern for the Yankees and their fans. However, it seems that Judge has avoided a serious injury, providing some relief for the team.
The incident occurred in the third inning at Yankee Stadium when Orioles pitcher Albert Suarez’s fastball struck Judge’s hand. Despite being visibly shaken, Judge initially remained in the game and even took the field in the following inning. However, he was later removed as a precaution before his next at-bat.
Judge underwent testing at a local hospital, where it was confirmed that he did not fracture his left hand. While the tests came back negative, the extent of his absence from the team remains uncertain. Judge expressed hopefulness of being able to return to play in the next game.
This injury comes as the Yankees deal with another significant loss, as first baseman Anthony Rizzo is expected to miss at least two months due to a fractured arm sustained in a recent game against the Boston Red Sox. Despite the setbacks, the Yankees managed to secure a two-run win over the Orioles, maintaining their lead in the AL East division.
The Yankees, with a 51-24 record, hold the top spot in the division, while the Orioles have struggled in recent games, falling 2.5 games behind New York. The team will be closely monitoring Judge’s recovery as they continue to push for success in the season.