Latest on Judge's timeline to return from rib fracture
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NEW YORK -- The Yankees appear to be working toward an August return for captain Aaron Judge, with manager Aaron Boone saying on Tuesday that the slugger may still be a “couple weeks” away from reimaging his fractured rib.
That suggests the Yankees’ captain could undergo those tests toward the latter end of a four- to six-week reimaging timetable the team provided when it announced Judge’s diagnosis -- a fractured first right rib -- on June 4.
Boone first provided the update in an appearance on “Talkin’ Yanks” on Tuesday, noting that Judge is improving.
“The feedback this week has been good,” Boone said at Yankee Stadium. “I feel like he’s starting to feel better, which is good. He was uncomfortable there for a while. It seems like the normal stuff is starting to feel better, so hopefully that’s a good sign of some healing.”
Boone said Judge is “still not able to do much. ... He’s certainly not able to do any baseball activities yet.” Judge has been performing lower-body activities in the weight room, according to Boone.
Reimaging will give the Yankees a sense of how Judge’s rib is healing and allow the team to determine the next steps of his rehab process.
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There's no official timetable for Judge's return to the lineup, but the club has said they do expect him back this season.
Judge has said he believes the injury occurred while attempting a diving catch on April 26 at Houston. The reigning American League Most Valuable Player battled the discomfort for nearly a month before noticeably struggling at the plate during the club’s series against the Athletics in West Sacramento.
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The Yanks initially played well without Judge, winning 10 of 12 games from June 4-19. Entering Tuesday, they’ve dropped eight of their past 10 games while averaging only 2.6 runs scored per game over that span.
“Certainly, having Aaron Judge in the lineup changes our team in a profound way,” Boone said this past weekend in Boston.
Despite his injury, Judge ranked third among American League outfielders in Phase 2 of the 2026 MLB All-Star ballot as of Tuesday.