Aaron Judge is finally heading back to the Yankees’ lineup after a frustrating three-month absence that lasted much longer than the New York captain expected.
The Yankees confirmed that Judge has been activated from the injured list, clearing the 34-year-old to return Tuesday when New York opens a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium.
Judge has been sidelined since late May because of a persistent rib injury. What initially appeared to be a shorter interruption instead wiped out most of his summer, leaving the Yankees without the reigning American League MVP and one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball.
Judge Clears His Final Yankees Hurdle
The final hurdle came when Judge took live batting practice at Yankee Stadium. The session gave manager Aaron Boone and team officials a chance to evaluate Judge against live pitching before deciding whether to activate him.
It followed a steady increase in baseball activity over the previous week. Judge had been running the bases, participating in outfield drills and taking practice swings as the Yankees tested whether his rib could withstand the demands of regular game action.
For Judge, the lengthy process clearly tested his patience.
“I’m mad how long it has taken,” Judge told reporters. “It is what it is. I wish it were real two months ago, but we’re here now. We’re getting close. I can’t wait to be back out there.”
Now he finally gets that opportunity, and his timing could hardly be more important for New York.
Despite playing for months without their captain and middle-of-the-order anchor, the Yankees have kept themselves in a strong postseason position. New York enters Judge’s return sitting second in the AL East at 81-62, with an 8.5-game advantage in the American League wild-card race.
Yankees Have More Than a Wild Card to Chase
That gives Boone some breathing room, but Judge’s return changes what the Yankees can realistically accomplish over the final stretch.
New York has 19 regular-season games remaining, giving Judge nearly three weeks to regain his timing against major-league pitching before the postseason begins. His comeback also arrives at the start of a six-game homestand, beginning with three games against Colorado before the Yankees face the New York Mets in a Subway Series matchup.
The wild-card position appears secure, but the division race still gives New York something more to chase. A strong September puts pressure on the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays and gives the Yankees a chance at the division title and a first-round postseason bye.
Judge was producing at a high level before the rib injury stopped his season. Through 59 games, he was batting .248 with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs and 43 runs scored. His .907 OPS showed that, even with a relatively modest batting average, his power and ability to reach base remained a major problem for opposing pitchers.
Judge Has 19 Games to Get Ready for October
Those numbers also explain why his absence mattered so much. Judge is not simply another bat returning from the injured list. He occupies the center of Boone’s lineup and forces opposing teams to make different decisions about how they attack the hitters around him.
There may still be an adjustment period after three months without regular major-league at-bats. Live batting practice and drills can test Judge’s health, but they cannot fully reproduce the speed and pressure of facing major-league pitching every night.
The Yankees, however, no longer have to wonder when that process will begin.
After weeks of rehabilitation, gradual increases in activity, and some very public frustration from Judge himself, their captain is cleared to play again.
And with 19 games left before the postseason, the Yankees are getting their biggest bat back with just enough time for Judge to find out how quickly he can look like himself again.
