Yankees Defend Aaron Judge’s Throws After Blue Jays Test

The New York Yankees’ 7-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night stung, but the box score barely scratches the surface. The real story? Aaron Judge returned to the outfield for the first time since late July after battling a strained flexor in his throwing arm.

Judge’s defense — and the Blue Jays’ decision to poke at it — has added a fresh layer of worry for a Yankees team still scrambling to close the AL East gap. With roster balance, postseason dreams, and star player health all crashing together, New York’s walking a tricky line.

Aaron Judge’s First Outfield Start Since Injury

Since Judge came back to the Yankees’ lineup in early August, he’d only served as designated hitter. Manager Aaron Boone warned early on that Judge’s arm strength might not bounce back this season.

Friday night in Toronto, Judge finally got his first shot in the field — and the Blue Jays wasted zero time going after him.

Toronto Tests Judge Immediately

First inning, and Daulton Varsho sprints home on a single. Yankees fans have seen Judge fire rockets to gun down runners before, but not this time.

Judge lobbed a noticeably soft throw to the cutoff man instead of going for the plate, letting Varsho score without a fight. That’s exactly the scenario Boone and the Yankees worried about — opponents daring Judge to prove his arm is back.

Reactions From Both Dugouts

After the game, reporters pressed Judge and Boone about the throwing issue. Boone, clearly tired of the subject, kept it brief, saying only that they’d “handle it how we handle it.”

He didn’t offer much hope or detail about Judge’s arm making a late-season leap.

Blue Jays’ Tactical Approach

Toronto manager John Schneider admitted their plan involved testing Judge’s arm on purpose. He mentioned Judge’s defensive reputation and all the buzz about his recovery.

The rest of the night, Judge got just one more chance to throw — long after the game was out of reach. Still, the message landed: teams will keep pushing if they think Judge’s arm isn’t right.

The Yankees’ Larger Lineup Dilemma

Judge’s throwing concerns don’t stand alone. New York’s lineup works best when Judge is in the outfield, since that opens up the DH spot for Giancarlo Stanton or maybe someone like Cody Bellinger.

But Stanton’s own health in the field is shaky, and putting too much on Judge could set him back again.

Balancing Health and Production

With October closing in and playoff spots on the line, Boone’s got a tough job:

• Protecting Judge’s Health – Making sure the Yankees’ captain stays available, even if it means less time in the field.
• Maximizing Offensive Output – Keeping big bats like Stanton and Bellinger in the lineup without letting the defense fall apart.
• Managing Opponent Strategy – Figuring out how to handle teams that will keep testing Judge’s arm.

What This Means for the AL East Race

The loss dropped the Yankees four games back in the AL East, and every game feels heavier now. If Judge’s arm keeps looking shaky in right, teams will run on him — and New York can’t afford that kind of edge slipping away in a playoff race.

Looking Down the Stretch

Boone and the Yankees’ coaching staff have to make game-by-game calls on how hard they push Judge’s defense. Every inning he spends in the outfield could help balance the lineup, but it also brings the risk of exposing his weakness.

Yankees fans will watch his every throw, probably holding their breath. Opposing base coaches? They’re definitely paying attention.

This season, tiny margins might decide playoff seeding. The Yankees have to protect their star and keep the offense dangerous, all while not giving opponents an easy advantage.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Yankees defensive about Aaron Judge’s throws as Blue Jays test his arm in outfield return