Aug 23, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees injured right fielder Aaron Judge (99) warms up before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The only man believed to be capable of waking the Yankees up from their second-half malaise took one step closer to getting back into the batter’s box in the Bronx, as superstar slugger Aaron Judge took indoor batting practice prior to Tuesday’s game against the Houston Astros.
“He looks good,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “…He’s been shagging [fly balls] just to kind of get the body used to being out there in the field and stuff, so he’s doing pretty well.”
Judge has not appeared in a game since May 31 after suffering a fractured right rib, which has prompted a methodical, arduous, and at times agonizingly slow rehab process.
Without the reigning back-to-back American League MVP, the Yankees offense has been stuck in neutral for most of their time without him. Only the Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds, and Seattle Mariners have scored fewer than New York’s 271 runs over the last 72 games.
The Yankees have gone 38-34 in Judge’s absence.
There is no concrete next step set for the 34-year-old, though it is believed that overhand batting practice is expected to precede simulated at-bats against MLB-caliber velocity, live batting practice, and then a minor-league rehab start.
“He’s got a calendar of what they’re doing, but you make adjustments to that as you go,” Boone said. “They’re definitely mapping things out, but as you go, you check some boxes and move on. Sometimes that progress speeds up a little bit. Sometimes you take a step back.”
Judge’s timeline has only been extended because he will have to play the field upon his return. The Yankees could have rushed him back and used him mostly as a DH, but Luis Garcia Jr., Ben Rice, and Paul Goldschmidt are already factoring into that equation.
“I’m not saying there won’t be a DH day in there,” Boone said. “But my plan is to have him play in the field.”
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