New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge is set to be placed on the injured list following a diagnosis of a flexor strain, according to manager Aaron Boone's announcement to reporters on Saturday. Boone confirmed that Judge's UCL remains intact and indicated that he will serve as a designated hitter upon his return from the IL.

Judge sat out the Yankees' 9-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, an absence that was initially attributed to what was described as an 'elbow issue.' On Friday night, Judge experienced difficulties throwing during the game against the visiting Phillies. In the preceding match, Judge was held hitless but managed to record an RBI along with a strikeout over three at-bats in the Yankees' 12-5 defeat. Observations from YES Network announcers during a Tuesday night broadcast of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays noted that Judge appeared to be in discomfort after making a throw from the outfield during the seventh inning.

Despite these challenges, Judge returned to the lineup on Wednesday, taking on the role of designated hitter instead of his customary position in right field. Boone commented on the position change before the game, stating, 'He’s okay. It’s not much.' The manager clarified that the switch was due to a throw that did not feel good, asserting that Judge was not designated as a DH solely for that reason. Following a day off on Thursday, Boone reported that Judge was feeling better. However, during Friday night's opening game against the Phillies, Boone revealed that Judge was 'really dealing with it' and was unable to throw effectively from the outfield. Saturday marked the first occasion this season where Judge was absent from the lineup. Despite this setback, he has been a leading candidate for the MVP award, boasting a .342 batting average over 103 games. His absence coincided with the Yankees' debut of third baseman Ryan McMahon, acquired in a trade from the Colorado Rockies to bolster the team's infield defense. McMahon has demonstrated offensive potential, hitting three home runs in six games since the All-Star break, offering the Yankees hope that they can compensate for Judge's anticipated short-term absence.