Judge avoids surgery; Rodón could miss opener

New York Yankees prima Aaron Judge won't request country connected his elbow, but left-hander Carlos Rodon underwent an cognition this week and could miss Opening Day.

Judge's throwing was constricted aft helium wounded the flexor tendon successful his close elbow successful July. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday an MRI aft the squad was eliminated past week showed "no country is going to beryllium needed."

"He'll instrumentality immoderate clip disconnected and proceed to bash strengthening things and rehab and stuff," Boone said. "But it felt similar helium finished the play successful a beauteous bully place, arsenic we saw continued improvements with him."

Judge, 33, led the majors successful batting mean (.331), OPS (1.144) and WAR (9.7) portion finishing with 53 location runs and 114 RBIs.

Boone said helium expects Judge to beryllium New York's mundane close fielder successful 2026 and downplayed the thought that the two-time American League MVP could spot immoderate playing clip astatine archetypal base.

Judge wounded his elbow making a propulsion astatine Toronto connected July 22. The seven-time All-Star returned connected Aug. 5 from a 10-day stint connected the injured database caused and threw gingerly upon his outfield instrumentality connected Sept. 5. He built up limb spot and made a 90.2 mph propulsion from close tract successful the AL Division Series opener.

Rodón was operated connected by Dr. Neal ElAttrache connected Wednesday to region escaped bodies successful his near elbow and shave a bony spur. He has 8 weeks of nary throwing, and the commencement of his play could beryllium delayed by a mates of weeks, Boone said.

Rodón, who turns 33 successful December, was 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA.

Boone besides said slugger Giancarlo Stanton does not request country connected his elbows.

Boone added that bullpen manager Mike Harkey and archetypal base/infield manager Travis Chapman won't instrumentality for 2026 and adjunct hitting manager Pat Roessler won't instrumentality successful that role.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo and The Associated Press contributed to this report.