6 Yankees that need to step up in Aaron Judge's absence, from Jazz Chisholm Jr. to Trent Grisham

6 Yankees that need to step up in Aaron Judge’s absence, from Jazz Chisholm Jr. to Trent Grisham originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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As the New York Yankees look to make another October playoff run, they may have to do so without their best player.

Aaron Judge enters the postseason dealing with a calf strain that could force him to miss time in the first few rounds. Even if he does return to the Yankees lineup, he is not likely to be 100 percent healthy for an offense that missed him mightily in the Summer.

With Judge out, the Yankees will have to lean on some of their role players to replace their captain’s production. Those players include mid-season additions, players who underwhelmed this year and veterans who have found success at the highest stage before.

Here’s a look at six players that need to show up for the Yankees in October.

MORE: Full Yankees-Red Sox playoff history

Yankees who need to step up without Aaron Judge

Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B

In a contract season, Chisholm didn’t live up to his own expectations of a 50-50 season, producing his worst statistical season since 2021. The second baseman finished the season with a modest .711 OPS, and while he was a little better in that second half than the first, Chisholm’s 2026 will go down as underwhelming.

Still, Chisholm gave the Yankees strong defense and strong baserunning, as his 41 stolen bases tied Pete Crow-Armstrong for the third best in baseball this year. If he can find his power stroke again, it will go a long way for the Yankees trying to replicate Judge’s power void. 

Heliot Ramos, OF

The direct replacement for Judge in right field is likely Heliot Ramos, whom the Yankees acquired from the San Francisco Giants midseason. New York made the addition specifically to replace Judge and Giancarlo Stanton’s success against left-handed pitching, as the outfielder is known for being a lefty masher.

Ramos got off to a brutal start in New York, producing a .577 OPS in August when he faced a large number of right-handed pitching while Judge was out. However, Ramos did bounce back in September with an .813 OPS, making it so he is comfortable entering October. While he isn’t a good fielder, the Yankees just need Ramos to hit lefties like he’s done in his career in the middle of a lefty-heavy Yankees lineup.

Spencer Jones, OF

Amid all the Yankees injuries this year, New York may have found its centerfielder of the future in Spencer Jones. Listed at 6-foot-7 with great speed, Jones has huge power but strikes out a lot, a profile that does resemble a much younger Aaron Judge.

Interestingly, Jones hit lefties better than righties, he point where he produced a 1.107 OPS vs. southpaws compared to a below-average number against righties. Jones’ all-or-nothing approach doesn’t typically work in October, but the center fielder has already shown he’s up for the challenge at the major-league level.

Luis Garcia Jr., 1B

Garcia Jr. was the Yankees big trade-deadline addition, but his second half was the reverse of Ramos’ production. Garcia Jr. was strong in August, adding an .842 OPS to the Yankees lineup, before struggling in September with a .593 OPS to enter October on a low note.

Unlike with Ramos, the Yankees will protect Garcia Jr. vs. lefties and hope to unleash him against righties, even though the team is filled with lefty hitters. Garcia Jr.’s 30 home runs are the second-most this season of all players on the Yankees roster. 

Paul Goldschmidt, 1B

When Judge first went down with an injury in June, Goldschmidt’s immediate contributions were huge to keeping the Yankees offense afloat, producing an .885 OPS in the month. That didn’t last long, with Goldschmidt struggling mightily in July, but he settled into a platoon role with New York in the second half.

Goldschmidt will platoon with Garcia Jr., primarily facing lefties after totaling a .967 OPS vs. left-handed pitching on the season. The Yankees will rely on Goldschmidt, along with Ramos, to fill in the gap that the lineup misses against left pitchers.

Trent Grisham, OF

Grisham has been out with an injury since early September, adding to the Yankees outfield injuries, but he appears to be close to returning for the playoffs. The veteran has been up-and-down this year, with his numbers taking a dip from last year’s career season, but still provided necessary stability to the lineup.

Where Grisham excelled for New York in 2026 was in clutch situations, producing .928 OPS in high-leverage opportunities according to Fangraphs. He may not be a factor in October due to his hamstring injury, or he could be a surprise contributor in Judge’s absence.