1:15pm: The Yankees have indeed called Williams up, the team announced. They haven’t announced an update on Judge, however. Rosters are expanded and Williams is already on the 40-man roster, so no other move is required.
11:30am: According to Sweeny Murti, the Yankees are calling up outfielder Mason Williams from Triple-A Scranton. I figured that would happen. Williams will replace Aaron Judge, who strained his oblique taking a swing last night. The Yankees have not yet announced the results of his MRI, but it’s not a stretch to assume Judge’s season is over.
Williams, 25, missed the first half of the season following shoulder surgery. He hurt himself diving back into first base on a pickoff play last year, you may remember. Williams hit .317/.335/.410 (112 wRC+) in 46 regular season minor league games after returning, most with the RailRiders, and he’s continued his hot hitting in the Triple-A postseason.
Last season Williams played eight games with the Yankees before hurting his shoulder — he replaced the injured Slade Heathcott, who replaced the injured Jacoby Ellsbury — and went 6-for-21 (.286) with one homer and three doubles. He went deep in his very first big league game, which was really cool.
The call-up means Triple-A Scranton is pretty screwed — they’re currently in the International League Championship Series and Williams was their everyday center fielder and leadoff hitter — but the big league team is the priority, and they couldn’t play with a short bench. Not when they’re still in the mix for a postseason spot. Calling up Williams was a no-brainer. It had to be done to ensure the Yankees are as close to full strength as possible.
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