Aaron Judge Sees Specialist as Yankees Await Injury Diagnosis

The New York Yankees are still in the dark regarding the status of their star player, Aaron Judge. As the team navigates the uncertainty surrounding his health, the roster of medical specialists working to diagnose and treat him continues to expand.

Following the Yankees’ narrow 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians, the team announced that Judge’s recent tests on his rib and shoulder will now be evaluated by Dallas-based vascular expert Gregory Pearl. Pearl is known for his specialization in thoracic outlet syndrome management among high-performance athletes, as stated on his website.

Initially, Judge was diagnosed with a bone bruise near his right rib cage, a condition that has been corroborated by multiple tests. However, the need for further evaluation arose after additional tests were conducted on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. With this latest development, the Yankees confirmed that Judge’s results will be reviewed by Pearl, raising concerns about the nature of his injury.

This news is particularly alarming for Judge, as thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) has been known to severely affect or even terminate the careers of some athletes. Notably, former World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg has faced significant challenges due to TOS, and Zack Wheeler, a Cy Young Award contender, underwent surgery to remove a rib due to the same condition, which cut short his 2025 season. Wheeler made a successful return to the mound, boasting a 5-1 record and a 2.31 ERA as of his latest game against San Diego.

The thoracic outlet, situated between the neck and shoulder, can lead to nerve or blood vessel compression, resulting in TOS. Wheeler’s case involved venous TOS, which required surgical intervention to remove a blood clot near his shoulder prior to his rib surgery. Among position players, catcher Mike Zunino is one of the most notable examples of someone who underwent TOS surgery in 2022.

A three-time American League MVP, Judge has made a significant impact on the field, amassing 385 career home runs, including 17 this season, along with an impressive .907 OPS. His last appearance was in the game against Sacramento on May 31, before the injury sidelined him.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.