Yankees Already Have Aaron Judge Replacement in Place

The New York Yankees' worst-case scenario came true on Thursday when outfielder and reigning back-to-back AL MVP Aaron Rodgers was diagnosed with a stress fracture that will sideline up him for a minimum of a month.

But it's possible he could be out even longer.

"I don’t like talking time tables," Judge said, via Erik Boland of Newsday. "That stuff’s all made up, so you never know what’s going to happen."

While replacing a player like Judge and his production - he has 53 hits, 17 home runs, and 38 RBIs, with a .248 average and .375 on-base percentage - is no easy task, the Yankees already have his replacement in place.

"Spencer Jones will be recalled from AAA to take Aaron Judge's roster spot. #Yankees," Jack Curry of YES Network reported.

In his first stint with the Yankees earlier this season, Jones, New York's first-round pick in 2022 and the team's No. 6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, recorded four hits and two RBIs with a .167 average and a .259 on-base percentage.

He didn't impress enough to keep his roster spot and was sent back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after 10 games.

In the minors, however, Jones has been much more of an offensive threat. He's tallied 13 home runs and 48 RBIs across 43 games this season.

The Yankees just need Jones to hold down the fort long enough to get back either Jasson Dominguez or Giancarlo Stanton, who are both out with a shoulder sprain and calf strain injuries, respectively.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 5:35 PM.