Under The Knife 6/26/23

No time for a big intro because everyone just wants to read about …

AARON JUDGE, OF NYY (turf toe)

A sprain is a tear. Deep breath.

What Aaron Judge has is likely a significant sprain in his toe. This isn’t new information. Previously it was a sprain, then two sprains, and now “torn”, which I’ll assume means either a Grade III sprain or a complete rupture. With Judge’s usage of the term “torn”, I think the latter is possible. If I tell you to tear a piece of paper, you’ll likely rip it in half. If that’s what’s happened with Aaron Judge, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll need surgery or that his season is over.

Let’s be clear here, so as not to compound the sprain/tear/rupture issue. What judge has is turf toe, which is a name for a sprained great toe, and the article link goes to a detailed 2021 piece that gives a lot of anecdotes about the pain and dysfunction. The reason for the name is easy to guess, or that it’s much easier to say than metatarsophalangeal joint sprain. Deion Sanders, the NFL and MLB great, went on Dan Patrick and detailed the issues he’s had with his toes, which continue today and threaten amputation.

But the great toe isn’t hanging on by just one ligament. Imagine a player tearing their ACL - or even not having one - and being able to play. It’s a disadvantage to be sure, but it’s been done. This isn’t even Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, which came only a few weeks after his injury. Judge has some time to heal up, for the medical staff and specialists to figure out how to support the toe, and to make adjustments to his swing.

The bigger question is going to be his fielding. If the DH isn’t available, held for Giancarlo Stanton, Judge has to play the field. While defensive adjustments can be made, even standing in the field and making quick starts is going to be a problem for the toe. My guess is we’ll see early indications on this, something like Stanton shagging flies or taking some reps at first.

SHANE MCCLANAHAN, SP TBR (back spasms)