Aaron Judge is finally taking a huge step towards returning to the field, with the news breaking that he will begin his hitting progression this week. This is absolutely massive for a Yankees offense that has looked utterly lost, frankly one of the worst in baseball, without their feared slugger in the heart of the order. It’s been a long wait for any real positive momentum.
The Struggle Without Their Slugger
Man, watching the Yankees’ offense lately has been brutal. Seriously, their lineup has been one of the worst in baseball since Judge went down, and you can’t sugarcoat that truth. His absence, starting all the way back on June 5 with that fractured rib, left a gaping hole in the heart of their order. We’re talking about a three-time MVP, a feared slugger, just gone. And honestly, Ben Rice’s struggles at the plate didn’t exactly do the AL East club any favors trying to fill those massive shoes. It’s been tough sledding, with the bats just going quiet and the team struggling to produce runs.
The Path Back to the Plate
But here’s the spark of hope everyone’s been waiting for. Last week, we got the first good news when Judge played catch for the first time since that June 5 injury. That was just a taste, though. Now, this week, New York’s powerhouse slugger is taking a serious, major step towards returning to the field before the regular season even wraps up. We’re talking about his hitting progression finally starting up! As Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported on X, quoting Aaron Boone himself, “Aaron Judge will begin his hitting progression this week.” That’s huge for his rehab progression, right? Now, sure, there’s still no definite timetable for his full return, and it could take a few more weeks before he even starts a rehab assignment. But Boone’s latest update truly paints a much clearer picture than we’ve had in months for his eventual return to the diamond.
Look, if the Yankees can somehow get Judge back into the lineup before the postseason kicks off, he’ll actually have some crucial time to get back into the swing of things at the plate. That’s the real key. Because let’s be real with each other, even with their formidable pitching staff, are the Yankees really going to advance far in the playoffs without a completely healthy Aaron Judge leading the charge? It’s a huge question mark, and frankly, the answer is probably no. So, keep your eyes glued to those updates this week. Every swing Judge takes, every report on his progression, is a vital step closer to getting their MVP back and giving this team a legitimate shot at making some real noise in the postseason. This is it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply