Aaron Judge expresses intention to be ready for Yankees' Wild Card series despite calf injury

<p>New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has stated that he intends to be ready for the American League Wild Card series next week despite a calf injury. Judge mentioned, "That’s what the plan is," in an interview with ESPN, indicating he is working to prepare his body for the games.</p><p>The Wild Card series is set to begin at Yankee Stadium next Tuesday against an opponent from the American League, which has yet to be determined.</p><p>Judge was placed on the injured list on Saturday due to a right calf strain. He noted that he has a soleus muscle strain, which he described as crucial for running and hitting, activities that are important for the Yankees' postseason aspirations.</p><p>He confirmed that he received a Platelet-Poor Plasma (PPP) injection in his calf on Monday and is awaiting clearance to resume baseball activities involving his leg.</p><p>While Judge is optimistic about his return, Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed a different view, stating, "We’re planning on him not being a part of that," regarding the Wild Card series, although he has not ruled Judge out completely. The Yankees have time to finalize their roster.</p><p>If Judge is not included on the Wild Card roster, he will not be eligible to play until the Yankees advance to the American League Division Series, which would occur only if they win the best-of-three series.</p><p>Judge mentioned that he has communicated with decision-makers within the organization about his situation but did not provide further details, saying, "I can’t control what people say. So, you’ll have to talk to them about that."</p><p>This injury follows Judge's recent return from a three-month stint on the injured list due to a fractured rib. Although this current injury may not be as severe, it is significant as the Yankees aim for a fully healthy roster during the postseason.</p><p>Since returning to the team, Judge's performance has been below his usual standards, going 4-of-23 with one home run and 13 strikeouts in 24 plate appearances. He remarked, "We’ve got games to win. I’m getting paid to play games for the New York Yankees, so I’ll get back as soon as I can."</p><p>The Yankees could face multiple opponents in the Wild Card series, with a likely matchup against the Boston Red Sox.</p>