Aaron Judge returns to Yankees after 83 games missed with rib injury ahead of postseason push
Judge Returns to the Bronx in Time for Rockies Series
NEW YORK – The New York Yankees announced that outfielder Aaron Judge has been reinstated from the 60‑day injured list and will return to the field in the series against the Colorado Rockies that begins Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. Judge, who has served as the team’s offensive linchpin since his arrival in 2016, had spent the last three months on the disabled list after suffering a stress fracture in his right first rib in late May.
Judge was seen working out on the field Monday, taking live batting practice and hitting the ball all over the outfield. He has not been assigned to a minor‑league rehab assignment; instead, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the team has been using “more creative ways to build Judge’s stamina for a postseason run in September.” Boone added that Judge might be called into games early and pulled before the end of a nine‑inning stretch if the team deems it beneficial.
The outfielder’s rehabilitation began in August, after he was cleared to resume baseball activities. In the meantime, Judge had been hitting off a tee, performing soft‑toss work, and eventually re‑joining the team’s batting practice in San Diego during the West Coast road trip. He has also spent time in front of a high‑velocity pitching machine and completing outfield and baserunning drills to rebuild his endurance.
Judge’s return comes at a crucial juncture for a Yankees team that sits 81‑62 and holds the top American‑League wild‑card slot. The club is four games behind AL East leader Tampa Bay, but it is a nine‑game lead over the Boston Red Sox, who sit at 80‑65. With a postseason push looming, the Yankees will look to pair their stellar pitching staff—who have held the league’s record for lowest ERA in the last 83 games without Judge—with a more consistent offense.
Before his injury, Judge was batting .248 with a .375 on‑base percentage and a .533 slugging percentage, 17 homers and 38 RBIs. In the 83 games the Yankees have played since he left the roster, the team’s record stands at 45‑38. The loss of the three‑time MVP has been felt on both sides of the ball, and his return is expected to lift the offense and provide leadership in the outfield.
“We’re thrilled to have him back,” Boone said. “He’s a cornerstone of our lineup, and we’re eager to see what he can do on the field.”
Judge is slated to line up in right field for the Rockies series, and he will be a key part of the Yankees’ plan to close the gap on the AL East and secure a top seed heading into the playoffs. Whether he will be called into early games to help preserve his arm for September remains to be seen, but the team’s focus is clear: combine Judge’s bat with the Yankees’ dominant pitching to contend for the World Series.
