CT scan shows Judge stress fracture; Yankees await tests

Aaron Judge has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his first rib after a Thursday CT scan. The Yankees say it’s not believed to be season-ending, but he’ll be out indefinitely as more imaging tests are planned. New York, 37-25 after beating the Cleveland

Aaron Judge left the Yankees’ lineup again on Thursday, and this time the news carried a different kind of weight.

After a CT scan, the franchise cornerstone has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his first rib. The injury is expected to keep him out indefinitely. but the early assessment is that it is not believed to be season-ending. New York will not stop at this point. though: Judge is set to undergo more imaging tests in the next month or so to determine how the fracture is progressing.

There had been real anxiety around what the rib issue could be. Earlier on Thursday. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Yankees were hoping to rule out thoracic outlet syndrome—a condition that affects nerves and blood vessels around the ribs and typically involves a nine- or 10-month recovery. Instead, tests uncovered a stress fracture, giving Yankees fans a measure of optimism amid the uncertainty.

The managing voice through the testing process has been Aaron Boone. With Judge out for the third straight game, Boone urged patience as the medical work continued. “Look it’s a lot of smart people in a specialized area and [the] guy’s several states aways,” Boone said. “We just got to be patient.”

Boone also added: “I’m obviously not a doctor, I don’t know how it all works, but there’s a lot of people involved in trying to make sure we get the right diagnosis.”

It’s not the first time Judge has dealt with a rib stress fracture. He previously had a stress fracture in his right ribs at the start of the 2020 season, and because that season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, he was able to avoid any prolonged absence.

On the field. the timing could not be worse for a hitter who has been battling through a dip in production. This year, Judge’s average has dropped to .248, though he still has 17 home runs and 38 RBIs. Before sitting with the injury, he was stuck in a 1-for-24 slump. Over the previous season. he still carried a reputation for damage potential. winning the batting title in 2025 by posting a career-best .331 with 53 home runs and 114 RBIs.

Even last year, the durability storyline never disappeared. Judge battled a flexor strain last season, and he received a platelet-rich plasma injection over the offseason to avoid surgery.

With Judge sidelined again, the Yankees’ right-field picture is now a matter of timing and availability. His role could be filled by rookie Spencer Jones, veteran Cody Bellinger, a minor-league call-up in Max Schuemann, or even utility man Jose Caballero.

New York has tried to keep moving through it all. The Yankees are 37-25 after Thursday’s win over the Cleveland Guardians. and they’ll host the rival Boston Red Sox on Friday in the Bronx. Yet the city’s attention is split—much of it is expected to be drawn to Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

The sequence of the past 24 hours has put the club in the same position fans hate most: waiting, not guessing. The CT scan has clarified the immediate diagnosis—stress fracture in his first rib—but the Yankees still need the next round of imaging to understand what comes next for a player they build their lineup around.

Aaron Judge Yankees rib stress fracture CT scan thoracic outlet syndrome Aaron Boone Spencer Jones Cody Bellinger Max Schuemann Jose Caballero Cleveland Guardians Boston Red Sox NBA Finals Game 3