Aaron Judge Cleared for Light Activity Following Tuesday Rib Re-Imaging

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was cleared for light activity following a Tuesday scan of his fractured right rib.

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge received clearance for light activity on Tuesday after undergoing re-imaging on his fractured right rib. The three-time American League MVP has been sidelined since May 31 due to a stress fracture, an injury he initially sustained while diving for a ball on April 26—his 34th birthday. Judge played through the discomfort for over a month before the pain became unbearable, leading to his placement on the 10-day injured list on June 5 and a subsequent transfer to the 60-day injured list on July 18.

Following the Tuesday scan, Judge expressed absolute certainty regarding his availability for the remainder of the 2026 campaign. "Oh, I'll be back this season," the outfielder stated on Wednesday, noting that he never considered the possibility of not playing this year. The current phase of his recovery includes running and upper-body resistance exercises, though he has not yet been permitted to engage in baseball-related movements. Judge indicated that a subsequent scan will likely be required before he is allowed to resume hitting and throwing, describing the mechanics of a swing as the most violent test for his recovery.

Yankees Offensive Struggles Without Judge

Since June 1, the New York offense has plummeted in the absence of their primary power hitter. The Yankees currently rank 30th in the majors in wRC+, 27th in OPS, and 26th in runs scored over that span. These struggles coincide with additional injuries to Giancarlo Stanton, who is dealing with a calf issue, and Cody Bellinger, who is sidelined by a hamstring injury. Entering Wednesday, the club sat four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East standings.

General manager Brian Cashman addressed these roster deficiencies before Monday's trade deadline by acquiring first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. from the Washington Nationals and Heliot Ramos from the San Francisco Giants. Judge commented on the acquisitions, stating the team secured the hitters they wanted in their effort to chase down the Rays for the division title. Manager Aaron Boone noted that because Judge has been inactive for so long, he will require a ramp-up period exceeding the length of a standard spring training once he is finally cleared for full baseball activities.

Timeline for Return and Division Race

With approximately 52 to 53 days remaining in the regular season, Judge acknowledged the urgency of his rehabilitation. The healing progress shown in the Tuesday imaging allows for increased testing, but the outfielder emphasized that the team is running out of calendar days. Boone remarked that while Judge wants to push the envelope to return, the player must be "whole" to contribute effectively to the club.

Judge’s return remains the focal point for a lineup that has struggled to produce runs for over two months. The stress fracture in his right rib was identified after multiple tests following his initial May exit. While the outfielder is optimistic about a return "sooner than later," he declined to provide a specific target date for his first game back in the lineup. The next steps in his progression will depend on how his rib responds to the current resistance training and running program before he attempts the high-impact motions of throwing and batting.