Aaron Judge is back in pinstripes.
The Yankees captain was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Monday ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium, ending a three-month absence due to a stress fracture in his right first rib sustained in late May.
Judge's return addresses a significant gap in the middle of the Yankees' lineup during a crucial stretch of the regular season. The team managed a 45-38 record across 83 games without him—respectable but falling short of the dominance expected during a postseason push.
"Getting Aaron back changes the dynamic of how we approach the final month," manager Aaron Boone said.
The front office and coaching staff opted to skip Judge's minor-league rehab assignment, instead using what Boone called "more creative" ways to build his endurance heading into October. Judge could see action in games where he's pulled before completing nine innings, marking a gradual reintroduction rather than a full return.
For weeks, Judge has been working his way back through increasingly demanding conditioning. In August, he was cleared for baseball activities, initially limited to tee work and soft toss before graduating to live batting practice. During the Yankees' recent West Coast road trip, he worked in the cages, taking swings and running drills. By Monday, he was facing high-velocity pitching machines, working outfield repositioning and running the bases.
Before landing on the injured list in early June, Judge was hitting .248 with a .375 on-base percentage, slugging .533 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs.
The timing of his return is critical for New York's September push. The Yankees sit at 81-62, holding the top American League Wild Card slot with a nine-game cushion. However, they're four games behind division-leading Tampa Bay and Boston is close at 80-65.
The Yankees' pitching staff has been strong throughout Judge's absence. With Judge back, there's optimism the club can pair that pitching excellence with more consistent offensive production during the final regular-season stretch.
