Aaron Judge Rejects Rehab Stint Following 15-Swing Batting Cage Session

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge took 15 swings against overhand pitches Tuesday and confirmed he will skip a minor league rehab assignment.

Aaron Judge took 15 swings against overhand pitches in a batting cage on Tuesday, marking a significant advancement in his recovery from a stress fracture in his rib. The 34-year-old New York Yankees outfielder, who has been sidelined since May 31, stated on Thursday that he will not participate in a minor league rehab assignment before returning to the active roster. Judge questioned the necessity of at-bats in Double-A or Triple-A, noting he previously bypassed a rehab stint in 2023 when he missed nearly two months due to a torn ligament in his right big toe.

The Yankees offense has struggled significantly during Judge's three-month absence, which followed a period where he played through pain for over a month. Since June 1, New York ranks 30th in MLB in batting average, 29th in wRC+, and 28th in both runs scored and OPS. Despite these season-long struggles, the team entered Thursday having scored 24 runs over their last three games prior to finishing a series against the Houston Astros.

Recovery Timeline and Batting Progression

Judge’s rehabilitation recently progressed from toss and tee work to his first session of overhand batting practice. Manager Aaron Boone, who observed approximately half-a-dozen of those swings, described the session as encouraging. The next phases of Judge's hitting program include facing high velocity from a standard pitching machine and a Trajekt machine, followed by live pitching.

While the three-time AL MVP has been cleared for light physical activity since the start of August, he has not undergone a follow-up scan to verify the healing of the rib. Judge expressed hesitation regarding further imaging, preferring to base his progression on physical sensation rather than clinical scans. He acknowledged that his bat speed and power might be slightly diminished upon his return but stated that even a reduced version of his performance would be better than nothing.

Defensive Plans and Injury History

Upon his return, the Yankees plan to utilize Judge as the starting right fielder while incorporating occasional days as the designated hitter. Boone indicated that he does not expect Judge to dive for balls in the field, a maneuver that caused this specific injury twice previously, including an instance in September 2019. Judge described the late April setback as a fluke occurrence and maintained that he has generally protected himself well in recent years.

Judge emphasized a need to be smart over the next several weeks as the regular season concludes, though he noted his approach would change in a high-stakes scenario like Game 7 of the World Series. The team will need to work through the logistics of building up his stamina without a formal minor league assignment, a process Boone suggested could involve creative internal methods.

Impact on Yankees Lineup

As the regular season winds down, Judge still requires multiple weeks to complete his rehab protocol. His return would address a lineup that has been among the least productive in the majors for the duration of the summer. The Yankees' offensive metrics since the beginning of June highlight the void left by the outfielder, who had been a primary contributor before his May 31 exit.

Judge remains adamant that his experience allows him to manage his return to the field without wasting time in the minors. He continues to build volume in his batting sessions, focusing on the feeling of his swing as he prepares for the final hurdles of facing live professional pitching. No specific date has been set for his clearance to play in Major League games.