MVP Aaron Judge Exits Texas Rangers, Yankees Game Early

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge exited Thursday night's contest with the Texas Rangers in the fourth inning.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The New York Yankees are without Aaron Judge as their captain exited Thursday's matchup with Texas Rangers in the fourth inning due to right hip discomfort.

Judge was replaced by Oswaldo Cabrera in right field.

The Yankees won go on to win the series opener 4-2 at Globe Life Field.

The 2022 American League MVP came into the game a little banged up. He jammed his right wrist/hand during a head-first slide in Wednesday's finale with the Minnesota Twins, but didn't leave that game. 

"There was some talk (about coming out), but we ended those pretty quick," Judge said Wednesday, per MLB.com. "You can either play or you can't play, so I was able to play."

Judge was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against Rangers starter Andrew Heaney.

Thursday was the first game of four between Texas and New York. Staff ace Jacob deGrom (2-0, 3.04) is going for the Rangers in the second game, with Clarke Schmidt (0-2, 6.30) pitching for the Yankees.

Judge hit his single-season American League record 62nd home run last year at Globe Life Field.

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You can find Kade Kistner on Twitter @KadeKistner.

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies, Cubs and Astros. He is also an editor for Inside the Rangers. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.