The New York Yankees are continuing their strong start to the 2026 campaign, as their 26-13 record is tops in the American League. If there’s one thing that could slow this group down, it’s injuries, and while the pitching staff appears set to get Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon back very soon, the lineup has taken some hits lately, with the biggest blow seeing Giancarlo Stanton land on the injured list late last month with a calf strain.
Earlier this week, New York called up its top prospect, Spencer Jones, to help fill Stanton’s void in the lineup. Jones’ arrival also could have a sneaky impact on Aaron Judge, as he can play in the outfield or at designated hitter, whereas Stanton is used primarily at designated hitter. With Jones in town and Stanton out for the time being, it sounds like manager Aaron Boone is going to get creative when it comes to his usage of Judge.
Aaron Judge Set to Be Used at Designated Hitter Amid Giancarlo Stanton’s Absence
As he’s gotten older, injuries have plagued Stanton, but when he’s healthy, he is able to provide Judge with some protection in the lineup. So far this season, Stanton has been producing at a decent clip (.256 BA, 3 HR, 14 RBI, .724 OPS), but without him, that puts more pressure on Judge to continue finding a way to create runs for New York.
Judge has once again been magnificent to begin the year, as he’s hitting .270 with a league-leading 15 home runs and 29 RBIs. Keeping Judge in tip-top shape is extremely important for the Yankees, though, as they need him playing at his best if they want any hope of making a deep playoff run. As we have seen in years past, when Judge struggles, New York can’t consistently score runs.
Stanton’s absence has created an exciting opportunity to see what Jones is capable of, and his ability to play in the field gives Boone a little more flexibility when it comes to making his lineups. Case in point, Boone used Judge as his designated hitter in the team’s 6-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night, and it sounds like he could continue to see time at that spot with Stanton sidelined.
“Aaron Boone told the reporters in Milwaukee that he is comfortable playing Spencer Jones in both left field and center field. He is DH’ing today, but Boone figures to get Aaron Judge some DH days while Giancarlo Stanton is down,” Chris Kirschner of The Athletic shared in a post on X before the team’s aforementioned loss to the Brewers.
Aaron Boone Looking to Keep Aaron Judge Fresh for the Yankees
GettyAaron Boone revealed that Aaron Judge will fill in for Giancarlo Stanton at designated hitter while he’s on the injured list
Judge has to shoulder a heavy load for the Yankees every year, so anytime Boone can find a way to take something off of his plate, he’s going to do it, as it will make his life easier. Playing in the outfield isn’t necessarily taxing, but it’s a lot easier to get injured on the field than it is while sitting in the dugout.
These are the sorts of managerial moves that fans have been hoping to see from Boone for years now, and while he isn’t going to make Judge a full-time designated hitter, he’s going to do what he can to lighten his load. New York will look to get back in the win column when it returns to action against Milwaukee on Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Yankees’ Aaron Boone Reveals Aaron Judge Plans Amid Giancarlo Stanton Injury