Aaron Judge finally made his return to the lineup on Tuesday after more than three months sidelined, but his comeback game against the Rockies was cut short, leaving the Yankees superstar visibly peeved with manager Aaron Boone. Talk about a fiery return!
Boone Held the Line, Even When Judge Showed Up Ready
A few days before his official return, Judge, an imposing 6-foot-7 outfielder, showed up to Aaron Boone’s office at Petco Park, completely unannounced, declaring he was ready to play. Look, when Trent Grisham hit the injured list with a hamstring strain, the club definitely needed some help. Judge had been nursing a fractured right rib since May 31, but he felt like he was at the end of his recovery timeline. He was ready to go. Boone, though? He said no. He knew there were still a few more boxes Judge needed to check before being cleared, and there was no way Boone was going to risk rushing his captain back just because another player got hurt. The team had processes and people to clear this, and it had everything to do with making sure Judge wouldn’t re-injure himself. Not even Judge’s sheer will could change the plan. So, Judge spent the team’s off-day on Monday at Yankee Stadium ticking off those last boxes. He faced live pitching, played defense for a few innings in right field, and ran the bases. He came away from it all with no issues. The Yankees brass were pleased with what they saw, and finally, Judge got the answer he’d been wanting for months.
A Win, But Judge Is Still Steaming
On Tuesday, Judge was back at Yankee Stadium, playing for the first time in over three months. But it was clear he was on a tight leash, and that visibly bothered him. Judge played just six innings, going 0-for-3 with a fly out to center and two strikeouts, before Boone pulled him from the Yankees’ 5-3 win over the Rockies. His timing was clearly off, which he apparently expected to some extent, knowing these at-bats were like his normal build-up when getting ready for the season. Even with Boone warning him he’d be pulled early, Judge was miffed when it actually happened. The eight-time All-Star had a long chat with Boone on the dugout steps after the sixth inning, pleading his case to stay in. “We got Cam [Schlittler] on the mound, so I’m probably not going to get a lot of action anyway,” Judge told Boone. “What’s the difference between me standing out there for nine innings or standing out there for six?” His request was denied. Hours later, Judge was still clearly stewing over the manager’s call. “I feel good. I played half a game. So I’m not too sure what to say about that,” he said, not even trying to hide how peeved he was. “Obviously, whatever [Boone] says, I’m going to do. But I’m not happy about it.” This was the trade-off, right? Judge pushed to skip a minor-league rehab assignment, which is standard for a player out since May 31. The Yankees obliged, knowing it was better to have Judge’s bat in the lineup now.
So, what’s next? You gotta wonder how long this “leash” is going to be. Judge’s bat is back, even if his timing is off, and you know he wants to be playing every single inning. This is definitely something to watch as the Yankees continue their series against the Rockies.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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