Aaron Judge Misses Stat Leaderboards After Injury Halts Season
**Aaron Judge** will not appear on the 2026 MLB statistical leaderboards after a lingering injury was confirmed on **July 5, 2026**, rendering him ineligible for the season‑long home run and RBI races.
The New York Yankees announced that Judge’s right hamstring strain, first reported in early June, has not improved enough to meet the 130‑plate‑appearance threshold required for leaderboard qualification. The team’s medical staff placed him on the 60‑day injured list on **July 5**, ending any chance of a late‑season comeback.
Because Judge finished the year with **124 plate appearances**, he falls short of the minimum needed to be listed among league leaders. The home run race now features **Mike Trout** (45) and **Juan Soto** (44) at the top, while the RBI leaderboard is led by **Mickey Moniak** with 112. Judge’s 28 homers and 78 RBIs remain impressive, but they will not be reflected in the official rankings.
Missing the leaderboard for the first time since his rookie season in 2017 removes a statistical benchmark that fans and analysts use to gauge a player’s season‑long impact. Despite the setback, Judge still holds the Yankees’ single‑season home run record (62 in 2022) and remains a key power threat when healthy. His injury also raises questions about his durability heading into the 2027 contract year.
Yankees manager **Aaron Boone** said the club will rely on **Giancarlo Stanton** and **Anthony Rizzo** to fill the power void while Judge rehabilitates. The team plans to bring Judge back for the final stretch of the 2026 season if his recovery progresses faster than expected. Until then, the focus shifts to securing a playoff berth without their marquee slugger.
The injury could influence Judge’s offseason training regimen, with a likely emphasis on lower‑body strength and flexibility. Analysts predict that a fully healthy Judge will return to the lineup in spring training, aiming to reclaim his spot among the league’s elite power hitters for 2027.