New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge expressed deep appreciation for American service members in a recent heartfelt tribute. Recognizing the importance of Veterans Day on November 11, Judge spoke about the gratitude he feels for those who serve the country, a sentiment that is personal for the star outfielder due to his uncle’s service in the Army and his grandfather’s tenure in the Coast Guard. 11, the captain put that gratitude into words. “Really tough and difficult” – Aaron Judge opens up about Yankees’ elimination, repeated injury struggles.
Judge has long made it a practice to personally acknowledge veterans, frequently interacting with those honored by the Yankees before home games and participating in the singing of “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch. This appreciation was highlighted during a segment on Saturday’s episode of “Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney,” where the captain thanked those who work tirelessly for the nation.
Reflecting on his personal performance, Judge described the 2026 season as both difficult and frustrating. He was limited to 66 games throughout the year due to a fractured rib that sidelined him for over three months. After making a brief return on September 8 to play seven games, he suffered a right calf strain on September 16, which ultimately led manager Aaron Boone to leave him off the ALDS roster. A fractured rib cost him more than three months and limited him to 66 games; he returned on Sept.
The Yankees were subsequently swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS, falling 4-3 in the final game at Yankee Stadium. The team struggled significantly to produce offense during the series, scoring only five runs and managing a team batting average of just.130. Despite the disappointment of missing the postseason, expectations remain that Judge will recover fully and resume his familiar routines, including his pregame traditions and seventh-inning contributions, by the start of the 2027 campaign, assuming no further setbacks occur.
