Aaron Judge exits early against Twins in concerning Yankees moment

MINNEAPOLIS — And just like that, the Yankees are holding their breath again on Aaron Judge.

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In his seventh game back from a three-month stay on the injured list for a stress fracture in his right rib, Judge was pinch hit for in the sixth inning of a two-run game Wednesday at Target Field.

He appeared to grimace on a check swing during his at-bat in the third inning, in which he eventually struck out, but stayed in the game before Heliot Ramos hit for him in the sixth inning.

Judge also threw a ball in from right field on a double in the bottom of the fifth, though it was not immediately clear when he got injured and what the injury was.

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But with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Yankees can ill afford to lose Judge again.

The Yankees had been fairly cautious in easing Judge back into action after his extended absence and not going on a rehab assignment before returning. He had two days fully out of the lineup across his first six games, the most recent one coming on Tuesday after he had played four straight games.

Judge hit his first home run back from the IL on Monday night as the Yankees clinched a playoff berth.

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