Aaron Judge finally stepped back into the batter’s box for the New York Yankees on Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies, but his highly anticipated return after a three-month absence was a quiet one. Judge went hitless in his three at-bats, striking out twice, as the Yankees eased him back into action after a long injury layoff.
The Big Comeback, Or Lack Thereof
It’s been a long wait for Yankees fans. Judge hadn’t seen game action since May 31, sidelined for just over three months with a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side. Despite the rust, the Yankee Stadium crowd still gave the three-time American League MVP a standing ovation during his first plate appearance, a testament to what he means to that team. He played six innings before Heliot Ramos took his spot, a move Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed was the plan all along. Boone told ESPN’s Jorge Castillo earlier Tuesday, “I’m going to be mindful of that, especially this first week. We’ll adjust each night and what we see, but we want to build him up smartly.” It wasn’t the explosive return everyone dreams of, but it was a step.
October Hopes Hang On This
Look, a rusty 0-for-3 isn’t ideal, especially with the regular season winding down. But it’s not “too concerning” that Judge didn’t look like his old self immediately. The Yankees *need* him, though. They are sitting at 81-62, holding the No. 2 spot in the AL East standings and are just four games back from the Tampa Bay Rays for the division lead. Plus, they own the top AL Wild Card spot. For New York to make a deep run in October, Judge’s presence in that batting order isn’t just crucial, it’s everything. Before his injury, he was having another monster year, racking up 10 doubles, 17 home runs, and 38 RBI with a .907 OPS in just 59 games, fresh off his second consecutive AL MVP honor last season.
The Yankees have to hope he gradually gets back on track. Building him up smartly is the right move, but the clock is ticking. You can bet every swing, every at-bat this week will be under the microscope as they push for the postseason.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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