Aaron Judge hit by pitch, exits Yankees' game vs. Orioles

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge left Wednesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles after being hit by a pitch in the second inning. The incident occurred when Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez threw a 96.1 mph fastball that hit Judge on the left hand. Judge immediately went down to the ground in pain and was checked on by the Yankees training staff. He was able to walk off the field under his own power but was removed from the game. Judge, who is batting .291 with 35 home runs and 73 RBIs this season, has been one of the most productive hitters in the league. His injury comes at a crucial time for the Yankees, who are currently in a tight race for a playoff spot. The Yankees are scheduled to play the Orioles again on Thursday, so it remains to be seen if Judge will be able to play. Manager Aaron Boone said after the game that Judge will undergo further evaluation. "He's a tough guy," Boone said. "Hopefully, it's not too serious." The Yankees are already without several key players due to injury, including Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo, and DJ LeMahieu. Losing Judge would be a significant blow to their chances of making the postseason. The Yankees are 65-55 and sit in third place in the American League East, just one game ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays and 5.5 games behind the division-leading Baltimore Orioles.

Summary

"Aaron Judge, a key player for the Yankees, was hit by a pitch in the second inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles and was removed from the game due to pain in his left hand. The severity of the injury is unknown at this time, and further evaluation will be conducted. The Yankees are already facing injuries to several players and losing Judge would be a significant setback as they try to secure a playoff spot."