The Yankees placed three‑time MVP Aaron Judge on the 10‑day injured list with a right rib injury, mirroring the stress fracture he suffered in 2019. He will be re‑scanned in four to six weeks, making a return before the All‑Star break unlikely. The club also had Judge examined by thoracic outlet specialist Dr. Gregory Pearl to rule out a season‑ending issue.

Outfielder Spencer Jones, the 25‑year‑old power prospect, is expected to fill Judge’s spot on Friday. Jones can cover all three corners, brings a strong arm and speed, and logged three starts in right field last month. Meanwhile Ben Rice must sustain his production; he trails only Yordan Alvarez in OPS and accounted for a sizable share of the Yankees’ league‑leading home‑run total.

New York still leads the AL East by a half‑game despite Judge’s absence, boasting a +93 run differential versus Tampa Bay’s +5. FanGraphs rates the Yankees’ division‑win odds at 69%, underscoring their pitching depth behind Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón. The injury may quicken deadline talks, but currently internal outfield options lessen urgency for an external hire.