The New York Yankees continue navigating life without superstar outfielder Aaron Judge. Judge has been sidelined since May 31 with a rib injury that has kept him from swinging a bat for more than two months.
Before the setback, the 34-year-old was hitting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs across 59 games, production that still left the club searching for answers in his absence.
The latest medical update, reported by MLB.com in early August, indicated Judge had been cleared for light exercises that included outdoor running and upper-body resistance work.
Imaging showed the rib is not fully healed, yet the activity marked a first step toward eventual baseball-related drills.
For a player coming off a season in which he batted .331 with 53 home runs and 114 RBIs, every day of uncertainty carries significant weight for a Yankees team that still views itself as a postseason contender.
On his own show, long-time Yankees announcer Michael Kay addressed the questions swirling around Judge’s return.
“Will Judge be back when they play the Red Sox at the end of August? I don’t think he will. Will he be back when they play the Rays in September? Maybe,” Kay said.
The measured prediction reflected both the cautious optimism surrounding Judge’s progress and the reality that a full recovery remains difficult to project with precision, and it’s important to note that New York’s series against the Rays isn’t until Sept. 23-25.
The Yankees sit in second place in the American League East with a 66-52 record through 118 games. They have played .500 ball over their last ten contests and hold a modest 29-26 mark at home.
After wrapping a series against the Seattle Mariners in the Bronx, the club will head north for a set with the Toronto Blue Jays. Those games will test a lineup that has shown resilience but still lacks the presence of its most dangerous hitter.
Judge is in the middle of his 11th major-league season, all spent in pinstripes. His combination of size, power, and plate discipline has made him one of the defining figures of the current Yankees era.
Health has become the central question as the calendar advances toward September and the potential of October baseball. Kay’s comments captured the measured hope that surrounds the situation: the possibility of a late-season return
