The New York Yankees still do not have a firm diagnosis regarding franchise player Aaron Judge. But the circle of medical specialists aiming to get him right continues to grow.
The Yankees confirmed to news media after their Thursday, June 4 game that tests on Judge's rib and shoulder will be reviewed by Dallas-based vascular specialist Gregory Pearl, who specializes in "thoracic outlet syndrome management in high-performance athletes," according to his website.
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Judge was initially diagnosed with a bone bruise near his right rib cage, which multiple tests have confirmed. Yet he was sent for more testing Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, and after the Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians 2-1, the club confirmed to reporters that test results will be viewed by Pearl, the thoracic outlet syndrome specialist.
It's an unsettling development for Judge, as TOS has significantly impacted or ended careers, such as former World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg. It also ended the 2025 season of Cy Young Award hopeful Zack Wheeler, who underwent surgery to remove a rib in September.
What is thoracic outlet syndrome recovery time?
Wheeler recovered in time to make his 2026 debut April 25, and improved to 5-1 with a 2.31 ERA by beating San Diego on Thursday. Yet there's very little track record for hitters impacted by TOS.
The thoracic outlet is an area between a person's neck and shoulder, and TOS can result when its nerves or blood vessels are compressed. Wheeler suffered from venous TOS and had a blood clot near his shoulder surgically removed weeks before his rib surgery.
Longtime catcher Mike Zunino is perhaps the most notable position player to undergo TOS surgery, in 2022.
Judge, the three-time American League MVP, has hit 385 career home runs and already smacked 17 this season, with a .907 OPS, before he was sidelined after playing in their Sunday, May 31 game at Sacramento.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Judge injury update has MVP seeing thoracic outlet specialist