Michael Kay asks Aaron Judge DH question after another Yankees outfield injury

Aaron Judge is slated to miss his fourth-straight game on Friday when the New York Yankees take on the Boston Red Sox. However, with the superstar slugger missing time, it’s detrimental that he gets back to action and helps offensively. Due to being on the 10-day IL, sports radio host and announcer Michael Kay wonders if Aaron Boone should switch things up for Judge.

During his latest episode on ESPN New York, Kay believes the best decision moving forward would be to make the 34-year-old hitter a full-time designated hitter in the lineup. Kay explains how the Yankees can’t afford to have Judge miss time due to injuries, and that his bat is too important for the offense. Moving him to full-time DH would substantially reduce the chances of the Yankees star sustaining an injury.

“They cannot afford to lose his bat,” said Kay about the Yankees. “And I know that there’s one more year in Giancarlo Stanton’s contract, but I gotta tell you, the best path for them moving forward is that Aaron Judge is a full-time DH. There’s too much chance of him getting hurt in the outfield.”

ICYMI: Should Aaron Judge be a full-time DH?@RealMichaelKay discusses Judge’s injury, what it means for the Yankees moving forward, and why he believes a permanent move might be the right call.

WATCH LIVE HERE: https://t.co/ylvdmCGdz5 pic.twitter.com/FFCLIcFHKy

— ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) June 5, 2026

Kay went on to claim that moving Ben Rice to a full-time catcher would open up a spot at DH for Judge. Additionally, with Jasson Dominguez beginning his rehab assignment, he should return to the Yankees’ lineup relatively soon. The strategy would essentially ensure that the three-time MVP would remain as healthy as possible, focusing solely on hitting, which is his bread and butter.

Aaron Judge was placed on the 10-day IL due to a rib cage injury. He is dealing with a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side, and could miss extended time because of it. The Yankees may have to get creative with the lineup until the 11-year veteran eventually returns.

It’s been a slower start to the 2026 campaign than usual for Judge. Through 214 at-bats, he has recorded 53 hits, 17 home runs, and 38 RBIs, giving him a .248 batting average and .375 OBP.

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