Aaron Judge was actually out there stretching and running in the Yankee Stadium outfield on Wednesday afternoon. Let that sink in for a second, because after being sidelined since June 2 with a fractured right rib, this is a massive step forward for the three-time MVP. The latest MRI, taken Tuesday, finally showed enough healing to greenlight outside running, even though hitting and throwing are still off limits.
Judge Is Back Out There, But What’s the Catch?
Man, Judge sounds as antsy as any of us would be on the bench. He told reporters, “The minute they said, ‘We’re going to start running,’ I said, ‘OK, I’ll meet you outside.’” You can feel his eagerness to get back in the game, right? And forget any talk about his season being over. Judge shot that down hard, declaring, “Oh, I’ll be back this season. I don’t know why I wouldn’t. That was always the plan to come back, sooner than later definitely. I never had a thought of not playing this year.” That’s the competitive fire you want to see. But here’s the kicker: even with this good news, there’s no official timetable for his return from the injured list.
The Road Back Is Still Long and Risky
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed Judge is only cleared for “light activity” for now. We’re talking “getting outside and doing some running and some resistance stuff in the weight room,” as Boone put it. Baseball activities? Those come later, “as he tolerates that.” The best-case scenario for Judge’s return is still sometime in September. Why? Because a three-month layoff from hitting and throwing is no joke. Boone noted that when Judge usually starts a six-week training camp every year, he’s already been hitting for over a month. He’s got a lot of ground to make up. With only 47 regular-season games left after Thursday’s off day, plus the playoffs, the clock is ticking.
Boone also mentioned trainers are “working backwards” on the calendar to map out his return, adding, “We should have time to do that.” But Judge’s rib isn’t fully healed yet, even with this progress. Boone summed it up: “He’s got to be whole, too.” Judge understands the stakes, understands he needs to heal. He said the “ultimate test” will be when he’s cleared to hit, calling it “the most violent of it all.” Another MRI is coming this month. If that shows a complete heal, then it’s go-time for hitting. That’s when we’ll finally get a real gauge on how long it’ll take him to suit up.
So while the sight of Aaron Judge running is a huge boost, this is still just step one in a long process. We’re all holding our breath for that next MRI. If that rib finally gets the full all-clear, then we can really start looking forward to seeing him back in the lineup. Until then, it’s a waiting game, but at least now we know he’s moving!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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