YEAH, HIT JUDGE IN THE HAND! THANKS A LOT BALTIMORE!

 

Source: Associated Press

I mean seriously, Baltimore! Three weeks out from the All Star Break, Aaron Judge, on an absolute hitting rage batting .302 and leading the major leagues with 26 homers and 64 RBIs is hit by a pitch and had to be taken out of the game on Tuesday night at the Stadium. Now put this in perspective, this is also one day before the Yankees get Gerrit Cole back, and welcome in Ben Rice to the roster. Yeah, thanks Baltimore for just wrecking things with one pitch.

According to the Associated Press, "Judge missed 45 games in 2018 with a broken right wrist after he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City’s Jakob Junis. Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts broke his left hand Sunday when hit by a pitch from Royals pitcher Dan Altavilla and is expected to miss six to eight weeks." Yeah, not the words we are wanting to hear.

Source: USATSI

Judge was in discomfort and clearly upset after having to leaving the game. He's been playing incredible baseball, MVP baseball. "Needless to say, losing Judge for any length of time would be a devastating blow to a Yankees team that took MLB's best record (50-24) into Tuesday's game," reported CBS Sports. Yes, the Yankees have depth in both their lineup and their outfield, but losing Judge takes likely the best player in baseball out of the game, which is bad for the Yankees and bad for baseball. 

Source: NY Times

And this is the third in a slew of injuries facing the ball club this week. Anthony Rizzo is out with a broken bone in his right arm after a collision at first base this past Sunday and Jasson Domínguez suffered an injury to his side on a swing this past weekend after completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery.

On the bright side, listening to Aaron Boone's press conference and the YES commentators, they did not seem too upset. So perhaps the early information is promising. Fingers crossed. 

Baseball is a long, physical season. And injuries are part of the game. But this one is a tough blow for the team and Judge. He awaits the results of imaging at New York-Presbyterian and a visit with the doctor. Let's hope it is just a bruise and Judge is okay. This is a big series and the Yankees need him. So, yeah, thanks Baltimore for pitching the big guy too far inside with a 94.1 mile an hour fastball.  

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof