NEW YORK – As the wait lengthens for updates on Aaron Judge’s injury status, the plot thickens and patience thins around Yankee Stadium.
“I wanted to walk in here and give you something so bad,’’ an agitated Aaron Boone said Thursday, after the Yankees’ Judge-less 2-1 victory against the Cleveland Guardians.
Diagnosed on Monday with a bone bruise to his right upper ribcage, Judge went for further imaging Wednesday and had a CT scan and X-rays taken Thursday morning.
The specialist overseeing these recent tests is Dr. Gregory Pearl, a Dallas-based vascular surgeon.
Though the club did not specify it, the involvement of a vascular surgery specialist could be to rule out the possibility of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which – if required – would be a season-ending procedure.
“There’s a lot of people involved to make sure we get the right diagnosis,’’ Boone said earlier Thursday. “I do expect that here soon.’’
Of course, anything involving Judge’s health carries a monumental impact.
It’s a whole different dynamic without the defending AL MVP anchoring the lineup, but “we all now we can’t use that as an excuse,’’ said Jazz Chisholm Jr.
On Thursday, the Yankees used a solid six innings from Carlos Rodon, some sharp defense and relief, good baserunning and a timely hit to salvage the finale of a three-game set.
“When the best player on the team is down,” Rodon said, there’s no choice but to battle on and find a way.
“I think we’ll be all right,’’ said Ryan McMahon, who delivered a go-ahead, two-out RBI single in the eighth. “We have the guys who can do a lot of different things with the stolen bases, hit and run.
“You really miss a player like (Judge), not only out on the field but in the clubhouse, in the dugout,’’ said McMahon, but it’s up to the Yanks to do “different things’’ to win games.
In the fourth inning against starter Slade Cecconi, “different’’ meant a double steal – with Paul Goldschmidt on the front end – to set up Chisholm’s game-tying sac fly.
In the eighth, Chisholm walked, stole second and moved up on a wild pitch ahead of McMahon’s tie-breaking single.
Baserunning has been “a part of our game anyway and today it was a big part,’’ said Boone. “Because they were in critical spots in a low scoring game.’’
Even Judge’s replacement right fielder, Max Schuemann, contributed two big defensive plays Thursday – including a leaping catch at the wall to end the seventh, with a runner at first – in his first start at the position.
“Best hitter in the sport, and obviously (you know) what he means to us. There’s a void there,’’ Boone said of not writing Judge’s name in the lineup over the past three days.
And who knows how much longer?
“But we also have really good players that can pick it up too,’’ said Boone. “Love the way we played the game today. And you’re not replacing Aaron Judge, though.’’
This week, Judge has been in the Yankees’ regular hitters’ meetings, and he worked out in the weight room Thursday morning according to Boone.
But the slugging team captain has not spoken publicly about his condition, which came to light Monday afternoon.
“He’s been good, staying positive,’’ said Chisholm, encountering the same even-keel captain during this period of medical tests and second opinions. “Same guy every day, honestly.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Aaron Judge injury diagnosis update wait continues for Yankees
