Aaron Boone Makes Big Aaron Judge RF Return Announcement Days After Public Confrontation

On September 5, the Yankees did not just suffer a 7-1 loss to the Jays, they also reignited a familiar storyline: the future of Aaron Judge in right field. After missing more than six weeks with a right flexor strain, the face of the team returned to the outfield for the first time since July 25. And the opening inning moment told the story. The bases were loaded and Aaron Judge fielded a single from Nathan Lukes. However, he did not try to throw home, instead tossed the ball to Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second and Statcast identified that the throw was at just 67.9 mph, which was far from Judge’s typical rocket arm. The decision enabled Daulton Varsho to score uncontested and later it sparked the debate related to his arm strength and overall readiness.

Aaron Boone addressed those issues directly when asked if Aaron Judge’s usage would transform on the basis of how other teams tested the star: “It’s going to be based on how he’s doing and hopefully the continued improvements as we go. We’re playing the long game on it. The reality is when he’s out there, he brings a lot of value,” Aaron Boone said as reported by Max Goodman.

Aaron Boone also acknowledged the uncertainty related to whether Judge can become an everyday RF again this season, reported by Chris Kirschner: “We’ll see. I can’t predict the future, but that would be great if he goes back to that, especially as good as he is out there.” Boone’s cautious optimism highlights the balancing act that is keeping Judge healthy while enhancing the star’s effect on defense.

Aaron Boone on if the goal is to have Aaron Judge be an everyday right fielder this season:

“We’ll see. I can’t predict the future, but that would be great if he goes back to that, especially as good as he is out there.”

— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) September 6, 2025

The star outfielder, for his part, stayed firm. When asked about his choice not to throw home, Aaron Judge said: “Just dropped the ball in. Throw it into the cutoff man. It’s a two-run single. What do you mean?…I wouldn’t be in the outfield if I wasn’t able to make that throw.”

The Yankees star added that he plans to play RF “as much as I can every day… because it’s the best lineup. That’s what we got to do.” However, the team is now facing a pressing issue: will Aaron Judge’s defense hold up enough to keep him there consistently? Or will Aaron Boone be forced to mix in Giancarlo Stanton’s limited glove to keep both bats in the lineup?

The concern around Judge’s defensive future is only a part of Boone’s September puzzle. Because the spotlight is also falling on another storyline: how the Yankees’ trade deadline additions will act when October arrives.

Yankees’ last-minute addition faces harsh spotlight

Among those new stars, none has drawn more scrutiny than Camilo Doval. The New York Yankees acquired the star in a trade deadline day deal with the Giants. However, the former All-Star reliever’s transition has been rocky. Through 15 appearances in pinstripes, the star has a 4.97 ERA with a staggering 1.895 WHIP, which is a sharp contrast to the dominance Doval once showed for the Giants, where the star piled up 69 saves with a 2.77 ERA across the first three seasons.

MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Washington Nationals at New York Yankees Aug 26, 2025 Bronx, New York, USA New York Yankees relief pitcher Camilo Doval 75 pitches in the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Yankee Stadium. Bronx Yankee Stadium New York USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xWendellxCruzx 20250826_sns_cc1_00106

Michael Kay did not stop to highlight the struggles. “This guy was an All-Star with the Giants and his stuff, as Paul [O’Neill] said, is electric, but he has really struggled with passed balls and wild pitches and walks and pitch clock violations as well…They need to get him straightened out as they head into October,” Kay said on YES Network. It was a candid reminder by the longtime Yankees announcer that the Yankees’ bullpen shuffle has produced mixed outcomes at best.

While David Bednar has impressed with a 3.14 ERA over 14 ⅓ innings and Jake Bird has already been shipped to Triple-A after a rough start, Doval remains the wild card. The star’s five straight scoreless outings in late August showed progress. However, his walk rate, which was 6.4 per nine innings, highlights how command lapses continue to undermine the star’s electric arsenal. For the Yankees, chasing a postseason berth, such free passes are a red flag.

At 28 and under team control through 2027, Doval still carries long-period upside. However, right now, the Yankees can not afford patience. As Aaron Boone needs to stabilize the bullpen, Doval needs to find the consistency that once made the star one of the NL’s most feared closers. With the AL East race tightening, every late-inning slip will be magnified.

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