The New York Yankees are at the start of a significant challenge to their 2026 season. They will not have slugging outfielder and three-time American League Most Valuable Player Aaron Judge in their lineup for 4 to 6 weeks. Judge suffered a stress fracture to a rib on his right side, and the Yankees will attempt to survive his absence.

Any time a player of Judge’s stature suffers an injury, it will require a huge adjustment from the rest of the Yankees roster. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman spoke about Judge’s injury and the impact it will have on the team prior to the start of New York’s three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

“Injuries are a part of the game,” Cashman said. “It takes a team to get through this. Some players are going to have to step up and that’s what it will take to get through this. We have a good club regardless, but obviously not as good without Aaron Judge. We’re still good enough but we will have to weather the storm.”

Judge said that he first suffered the injury in late April when he felt discomfort after diving for a ball in the outfield. However, he stayed in the lineup because he felt that the Yankees needed his services after Giancarlo Stanton suffered an injury to his right calf. That injury has lingered and there is no timeline as to when Stanton will return to the New York lineup.

Judge has 17 home runs and 38 runs batted in at this point in the season. He has struck out 72 times in 214 at bats.