3 Yankees with most pressure to fill void left by Aaron Judge injury

The New York Yankees have upgraded their lineup over the last couple of years, but apprehension still pervades the fan base whenever Aaron Judge suffers an injury scare. While there is bound to be concern when the best hitter in the world goes down, a big-market club that boasts a regular October presence should inspire a bit more optimism in times of adversity. Instead, there are audible groans emanating from The Bronx.

Judge sustained a stress fracture in his ribs and will miss four to six weeks. The last time the generational superstar was out of action for such a lengthy period — torn ligament in his toe back in 2023 — the Yankees finished 82-80 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since his debut 2016 campaign. They will not face as much danger in a weak American League this year, but their divisional title ambitions could incur a big blow.

A month-plus of no Judge could enable the first-pace Tampa Bay Rays to gain some separation. Although home-field advantage is not essential in the MLB postseason, an unrelenting Yankee Stadium crowd and a favorable porch in right field could definitely make a difference. Now that the team and public finally have clarity on No. 99’s injury, they can mentally prepare themselves for the obstacles that lie ahead.

If the Yankees are going to remain in contention for AL East supremacy by the time Aaron Judge returns, then a few players will need to meet the challenge. One cannot simply match the value that a three-time MVP, five-time Silver Slugger and reigning batting champion provides, but there are three men who can potentially make his absence far less costly than it has been in the past.

The Yankees need more from Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. is coming off a 30-30 campaign and will enter free agency this offseason. He is supposed to be a high-profile talent in 2026. Instead, he has been used as a punchline at different points of the year. Hall of Famer and Cleveland Guardians radio play-by-play man Tom Hamilton cracked a joke about the All-Star second baseman appearing on “The Tonight Show” with a .239 batting average. The chatter is not only coming from the outside, though.

Yankees fans have limited patience for Chisholm, who is slugging .393 with a .705 OPS and seven home runs this season. He stepped up in May, but consistent production is a must if New York is going to vie for another AL pennant. That is doubly true with Judge on the injured list.

Whether it be making sound decisions on the base paths and in the infield, or getting a hit in a crucial situation, the 28-year-old Bahamian has to make an undeniable impact moving forward. Perhaps Hamilton’s jab can serve as useful bulletin board material.

Hey, whatever helps.

Cody Bellinger is performing at an All-Star level, but can he turn it up a notch?

I want to clear the air right now. Ben Rice is not on this list. It is unfair to ask the 27-year-old star first baseman to step up when he already ranks second in MLB with a 1.030 OPS while carrying a .300 batting average. Sure, his productivity could dip without Judge’s protection in the lineup, but he has done more than anybody could have hoped for to this point of the campaign. Expectations and pressure go hand in hand, and both were higher for Cody Bellinger entering 2026.

The highly accomplished outfielder is enjoying a noteworthy second season with the Yankees, slashing .273/.373/.468/.841 with eight homers and 40 RBIs in 263 plate appearances. With the franchise cornerstone on the injured list, Bellinger will need to maintain or even slightly increase his impressive numbers.

The 2020 World Series champion and 2019 National League MVP squeezed all the money he could out of New York last offseason, which amounted to a five-year, $162.5 million contract, so fans demand excellence. He is holding up his end of the deal thus far, but another rough stretch like the one he experienced in April could hurt this shorthanded lineup.

Bellinger should be equipped to handle the extra burden following his time leading the Los Angeles Dodgers. He endured two seasons of offensive ineptitude (probably at least partially due to injury issues) but pushed through and reclaimed his All-Star form. More responsibilities should not rattle him. But if they do, people will be ready to pounce.

Trent Grisham has yet to validate New York’s faith

Like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham showed life in May after a brutal start and is now running with some momentum. He is extremely streaky, however, and will likely struggle to post a respectable batting average for an extended period of time. Even so, manager Aaron Boone will trust the veteran center fielder to unleash a healthy dose of power.

Grisham is batting .212 with a .331 on-base percentage, .709 OPS and seven home runs through 236 plate appearances. While he does not need to hit 34 dingers again, fans expect about 25 after general manager Brian Cashman gave him a $22.025 million qualifying offer for the 2026 season. Re-signing the 29-year-old left-handed batter was a polarizing decision when it happened, but there will be intense outrage if this move fails.

Ultimately, Grisham will be defined by what he does in the playoffs. Though, in order for the Yankees to have the best possible path to a World Series, he might have to swing a hot bat in the summer. Aaron Judge posts an elite 7.3 percent home run rate for his career. The mustachioed Texan will be tasked with doing some of the heavy lifting while the future HOF recovers.

It will take a collective effort to sidestep this Judge-sized hole, but these three hitters are instrumental to successfully completing that objective.

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