Aaron Judge is healing, but he still is not swinging. The Yankees moved their captain to the 60-day injured list on Saturday as he continues to recover from a stress fracture in the 1st rib on his right side.
The move does not add another 60 days to his absence. It was mainly a paper transaction that cleared a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Bradley Hanner.
The harder news came from Judge’s latest scan. Imaging during the All-Star break showed progress, but not enough for doctors to clear him for baseball activity. He needs another clean scan before he can ramp up his workload.
Judge has been out since May 31, and the Yankees still do not have a target date for his activation. That leaves New York with the same problem it has faced for nearly 7 weeks. Its most dangerous hitter is unavailable, and the offense must keep finding runs without knowing when he will rejoin the lineup.
The medical clock still controls the timeline
The 60-day designation sounds alarming, but the transaction itself did not create a new setback. Judge had already missed enough time for the Yankees to make the move without changing his basic timetable. His body, not the roster label, will decide what happens next.
Manager Aaron Boone said the pain has eased from a sharp feeling to more of a pull. That is progress, but Judge remains unable to begin normal baseball work. He must become symptom-free before increasing his upper-body training, then clear each hurdle without the discomfort returning.
Power hitters cannot rehab at half-speed. Judge eventually has to swing with full force, throw, run, and handle the daily strain of playing the outfield or serving as the designated hitter. There is no fast-tracking a healing rib.
After Saturday’s game against the Dodgers was rained out at Yankee Stadium, Boone explained why the Yankees are still waiting.
“Obviously healing going on, which is good, but still not able to start any baseball activities or anything,” Boone said.
How Judge feels will determine the timing of his next scan. Until that test gives the medical staff a clearer answer, every comeback estimate remains tentative.
Judge’s production cannot be replaced by 1 bat
Judge was hitting .248 with a .375 on-base percentage, a .533 slugging percentage, 17 home runs, and 38 RBIs through 59 games. His .908 OPS gave the lineup a reliable source of power and traffic in the middle of the order.
The club was 36 and 23 when he last played. It has gone 18 and 20 since then. The drop is not solely about Judge. Injuries, pitching issues, and poor execution have all contributed. Still, the offense has clearly lost its margin for error.
Trent Grisham and Ben Rice have supplied solid production during the absence. Grisham has posted an .894 OPS in that span, while Rice has recorded an .864 OPS. Their work has kept parts of the lineup functioning.
Other key hitters have not matched that level. Cody Bellinger entered Judge’s absence with an .855 OPS, then fell to .622 over the following stretch.
The wider team numbers show the damage. Without Judge, New York has averaged 4.16 runs per game. It has hit .195 with runners in scoring position and posted a .290 on-base percentage. Those figures place the Yankees near the bottom of the majors in the areas that decide close games.
The active roster must carry the second half
New York must evaluate its offense based on the players who are available now. Any contribution from Judge is a future boost, not an immediate fix.
Bellinger, Rice, Grisham, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Anthony Volpe will continue to receive the most important plate appearances. Austin Wells also needs to provide more from the catcher position. None of them can copy Judge’s full impact, but the group must produce enough quality at-bats to prevent the season from slipping while he recovers.
The front office also has a decision to make before the trade deadline. Judge’s uncertain timetable increases the case for another dependable hitter, especially one who can improve the club’s on-base production and performance with runners in scoring position. Waiting for the captain cannot become the entire offensive plan.
Boone remains confident that Judge will play again this season. Confidence, however, does not fill out a lineup card. The Yankees must prepare for an extended absence and treat an eventual activation as a major addition when it arrives.
Judge’s next scan will shape the medical plan. Until then, the challenge is straightforward. New York has to score enough without him to make his comeback matter.
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FAQS
1. Why did the Yankees move Aaron Judge to the 60-day IL?
The move mainly cleared a 40-man roster spot for Bradley Hanner. It did not add another 60 days to Judge’s absence.
2. What injury does Aaron Judge have?
Judge has a stress fracture in the 1st rib on his right side. He has been sidelined since May 31.
3. When will Aaron Judge return to the Yankees lineup?
The Yankees have not announced a firm date. Judge needs another scan and medical clearance before he can increase baseball activity.
4. Can Aaron Judge swing a bat yet?
No. The latest scan showed healing, but doctors have not cleared him to resume baseball activities.
5. Who must carry the Yankees offense without Judge?
Cody Bellinger, Ben Rice, Trent Grisham, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells must share the offensive workload.
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