New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge has received clearance to commence light workout activities, signaling a significant step forward in his recovery from a rib injury that has kept him sidelined since May 31. Judge expressed strong confidence about returning to play this season, stating, “Oh, I’ll be back this season. I don’t know why I wouldn’t be.” He emphasized that returning to the field within the current season has always been the objective.
Judge Progresses in Recovery
On Wednesday, Judge was observed on the field at Yankee Stadium, engaging in activities such as stretching, jogging, and performing shuffle slides with a resistance band. This progression follows a recent scan conducted on Tuesday, which provided encouraging results for his healing fractured rib. “Better news. Healing up. So, you get a chance to progress a little bit, do some running, do some more upper-body stuff, and kind of progress towards getting back out on the field and swinging it,” Judge commented. While acknowledging the injury is not yet fully healed, he described the current phase as a “great step forward.”
Path to Returning to the Lineup
Despite the positive developments, Judge’s return to the active lineup is not imminent. The next crucial phase involves advancing to taking swings, a timeline for which remains uncertain. Judge identified hitting as the most demanding aspect of his recovery. “I think that’s going to be the ultimate test, is hitting,” he stated. “That’s the most violent of it all, I think, more than running or lifting and stuff like that. So, once we keep progressing, everything’s feeling great, then we take another scan, see where it’s at and hopefully add in hitting and throwing and all that down the road.”
Neither Judge nor Yankees manager Aaron Boone has provided a specific target date for the outfielder’s comeback. Judge humorously noted his proactive approach to advancing his recovery, saying, “I’ve got nothing for you on that yet. I just got the scan yesterday and the minute they said all right, we’re going to start running, I said, “OK, I’ll see you outside.” So, I kind of forced them on that one.” He added that reporters would be informed once a concrete game plan is established.
Impact of Judge’s Absence
Aaron Judge is currently on the 60-day injured list due to a stress fracture in his right rib. Before his injury, he had posted a.248 batting average with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs, and a.907 OPS. However, his performance in the 18 games leading up to his IL placement included only one home run. The Yankees have struggled offensively during his absence, ranking among the worst in the majors in that period. Since Judge last played on May 31, the team’s record stands at 28-27.
The Yankees’ lineup has also been impacted by the extended absences of designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who has been out since April 25 with a calf strain, and All-Star left fielder Cody Bellinger, sidelined since July 26 with a hamstring strain. To bolster their roster, the Yankees acquired first baseman Luis García Jr. and outfielder Heliot Ramos prior to the trade deadline.
Team’s Standing and Urgency for Return
As of Wednesday night, the Yankees were trailing the first-place Tampa Bay Rays by four games in the AL East standings and held the top wild card spot in the league. Judge acknowledged the urgency to return, given the limited time remaining in the regular season. “I’ve got a broken rib, so you’re going to feel it. But it’s healing up. So that’s the progress we want see so we can start doing some more and kind of testing and see where we’re at,” he said. “Because we’re running out of days. I know we’ve got 52 days left, 53 days left, so, got to get back out there.”
The ability to resume baseball activities, including hitting and throwing, will be closely monitored through further scans. Judge’s return is eagerly anticipated by the Yankees organization and their fanbase as they push towards the playoffs. His presence is expected to provide a significant boost to the team’s offensive capabilities and overall performance.
