2026 MLB Injury Update: Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Tarik Skubal, & Cal Raleigh
The 2026 MLB season is under threat as major stars face significant time on the sidelines, potentially altering the course of various playoff races. This update provides the latest recovery timelines and status reports for four of the league's biggest names:- Aaron Judge (New York Yankees): The Yankees captain is shut down for at least four to six weeks following a devastating diagnosis of a stress fracture in his right rib.- Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers): Following a procedure to remove bone chips from his elbow, the Tigers' ace is nearing a return after a dominant rehab start where he reached 99 mph.- Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals): An AL MVP favorite, Witt is dealing with right knee soreness, though the Royals remain optimistic the injury is not serious.- Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners): One of the league's top power hitters has resumed light baseball activities, but he remains without a clear timetable for return from a tricky right oblique strain.
Video Transcript
What's up everyone?
The 2026 MLB season has already been rocked by injuries to some of the game's biggest superstars, and several playoff races could be dramatically impacted depending on how quickly these players return.
Today, we're looking at the four biggest names currently dealing with injuries.
Let's get started.
We'll begin with the Yankees captain Aaron Judge.
Judge recently received a devastating diagnosis after additional testing revealed a stress fracture in his right rib.
Early reports suggested it might be a bone bruise, but specialists later confirmed the fracture.
The Yankees have reportedly shut him down for four to six weeks before re-evaluating the injury.
This is a massive blow to New York, as Judge remains the face of the franchise and one of the most feared hitters in baseball.
Next up is Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Skubal underwent a minimally invasive elbow procedure earlier this season to remove bone chips.
The good news is that the rehab has gone extremely well.
He recently dominated during a rehab start, striking out six batters over five innings while touching ninety-nine miles per hour on the radar gun.
That's great news for Detroit, which is hoping its ace can help fuel a postseason push.
Next, let's talk about Royals superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Witt exited Sunday's game against the Twins with right knee soreness after discomfort worsened throughout the game.
Fortunately, both Witt and the Royals are optimistic the injury is not serious.
Kansas City can't afford to lose him for long.
Witt has been one of the best all-round players in baseball and is now among the favorites in the American League MVP race.
And finally, we have Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh.
Raleigh has been sidelined since mid-May with right oblique strain, one of the trickiest injuries for hitters to recover from.
The Mariners recently reported he's resumed baseball activities and light catching work, but there's still no timetable for his return.
Seattle has managed to stay afloat, but getting one of baseball's top power-hitting catchers back would be a huge boost.
So those are the four biggest injury situations currently shaping the 2026 MLB season
