Aaron Judge is absolutely convinced he is coming back to the Yankees lineup this year, telling reporters “Definitely,” and adding, “I don’t see why I wouldn’t.” That’s the kind of fighting spirit you love to hear from a captain, but the reality for the Yankees star is a lot more complicated right now. Even with Judge feeling significantly better, the medical team is pumping the brakes, keeping him sidelined from any baseball activities.
The Frustration of the Sidelines: Feeling Good, Doing Nothing
It has been six long weeks since Judge landed on the injured list on June 2 with a fractured rib, and for him, it has been “the worst.” He recently had more imaging during the All-Star break and says he feels “ten times better” than he did when the injury first happened. You can almost hear his exasperation when he said, “That was my big complaint. Well, if I’m feeling better, how about we start moving?” But the Yankees’ doctors are playing it safe, wanting to avoid any setbacks that could push his return back even further. They just want to “be sure it’s healing up the right way.”
The rib has healed “a little,” which Judge called “positive news.” But “a little” isn’t enough for even light exercise beyond some lower-body work and walking on an incline treadmill. He even tried riding a bike, only to be shut down because it put too much pressure on his ribs. It’s tough when you’re a competitor who gets “paid to play big games” and you want to be “a part of everything” with a team you describe as “special.”
Waiting on Dr. Pearl and the Eager Return
So what’s the holdup now? Judge and the Yankees are playing a waiting game, hoping the fracture heals “all the way through.” The big update is expected from Dr. Gregory Pearl, a Dallas-based vascular surgeon who, according to Judge, “has looked at so many rib injuries.” The team is also consulting with Dr. Christopher Ahmad, the team physician, and a wide network of specialists for guidance. Dr. Pearl’s opinion on Judge’s latest images should be the green light or red light for baseball activities, with news expected by Friday or Saturday at the latest.
Whenever he does get clearance, Judge is already eyeing a direct jump back into the lineup, openly stating, “I hate rehab games,” and asking, “why waste some at-bats in a rehab game?” He’s clearly itching to get back onto the field. This wait-and-see game is critical for the Yankees, who were 54-42 and in second place in the AL East when Judge initially went on the IL, 36 games ago. All eyes are on Dr. Pearl’s report; it will dictate everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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