Key keywords: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, rib cage injury, 2024 MLB regular season, Yankees playoff contention, Aaron Judge medical evaluation, MLB injury update, right fielder injury The New York Yankees announced on Wednesday that star right fielder Aaron Judge will undergo a series of advanced medical tests on his ailing rib cage, after the 2022 American League MVP left Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays early with persistent discomfort in his right torso. Judge exited the contest in the bottom of the third inning, after taking a hard swing at a 96 mph fastball from Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt. Broadcasters spotted him wincing and grabbing at his right side immediately after the swing, and he was pulled from the lineup one inning later, with utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa taking his place in right field. Initial on-site evaluations from the Yankees’ medical team pointed to a potential intercostal muscle strain, but the group decided to order more detailed imaging — including a contrast MRI and dynamic ultrasound — to rule out more serious damage such as a rib stress fracture or cartilage tear. The timing of the injury could not be higher-stakes for the Yankees, who currently hold a two-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the American League East with just 18 games left in the 2024 regular season. Judge has been the undisputed engine of the Yankees’ offense this year, posting a .982 OPS with 37 home runs, 97 RBI, and a 162 OPS+ that ranks top 3 among all AL qualified hitters. With fellow slugger Giancarlo Stanton already sidelined with a hamstring strain and expected to miss at least another week, a long-term absence for Judge would leave a massive hole in the middle of the Yankees’ lineup as they gear up for a postseason run. Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke to reporters after the game, emphasizing that the team will prioritize Judge’s long-term health over short-term regular season wins. “We’re not going to rush him back, no matter what the standings say right now,” Boone said. “Aaron means too much to this organization, and we need him at 100% if we’re going to compete for a World Series. We’ll know more once the tests come back in the next 24 hours, and we’ll update his status publicly as soon as we have clarity.” Yankees fans have expressed widespread anxiety over the injury, noting that Judge missed 52 games in the 2023 season with a torn ligament in his toe, a stretch where the team went just 26-26 and fell briefly out of playoff position. If the tests confirm only a Grade 1 intercostal strain, Judge is expected to miss 7-14 days, which would put him on track to return for the first week of the postseason. A more serious diagnosis, such as a stress fracture, would sideline him for 4-6 weeks, likely ending his 2024 campaign entirely.