NEW YORK — On a night already spiraling out of control for the New York Yankees, fans witnessed a stunning and painful twist: team captain Aaron Judge left bloodied after being accidentally struck in the face by a throw from teammate Anthony Volpe.
The incident, which occurred between innings during Saturday’s 12–6 loss to the New York Mets at Citi Field, left the Yankees’ superstar dazed and briefly forced out of the game.
As Judge jogged in from the outfield at the end of the fourth inning, Volpe—practicing routine infield throws—fired a ball toward first base. Unaware, Judge walked into the line of fire. The ball smashed into the right side of his face, shattering his sunglasses and leaving a cut that drew blood.
“It just looked like a normal exchange, then Judge was down. The whole place went quiet,” one eyewitness said.
Medical staff rushed to Judge’s side. He was seen holding his face, visibly stunned, while trainers applied a compress to control the bleeding.
Despite the scare, Judge returned to the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a bandage on his face — a move that earned a standing ovation from both Yankees and Mets fans.
“He had a little cut. In the end, it doesn’t seem serious,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
“He’s a warrior,” added teammate Giancarlo Stanton.
Volpe: “I Feel Terrible”
The 23-year-old Volpe looked rattled after the accident and was seen muttering to himself in the dugout.
“Obviously, I feel terrible,” he told reporters postgame. “You never want that to happen — especially to someone like Judge. I’m just glad he’s OK.”
Boone confirmed Judge passed all concussion protocols and that there was no structural damage, though the team will continue monitoring him.
The bizarre moment was just another low in what has become a nightmare week for the Bronx Bombers. Saturday’s loss marked their sixth consecutive defeat, with sloppy defense, bullpen struggles, and mental mistakes piling up.
The Judge-Volpe incident, though accidental, symbolized the kind of disarray the Yankees are battling — and social media wasted no time reacting.
“When even your own teammates are hitting you… it might be time for a full reset,” one fan posted on X.
It was a scene no Yankees fan wanted to see: their captain on one knee, bleeding, brought down not by the opponent — but by his own team.
Thankfully, Aaron Judge showed why he remains the heart and soul of the franchise, brushing off the pain and returning to the field. But the bigger picture remains: unless the Yankees regroup fast, the 2025 season might be remembered not for a comeback — but for a collapse.