New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge has reached a crucial milestone in his recovery from a stress fracture in his right first rib, taking his first physical swings since going on the injured list in late May.
**Injury & Rehabilitation Progress**
* **Tee Work:** Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Judge has begun hitting off a tee at Yankee Stadium. This marks his first time swinging a bat since May 31, following weeks of pool workouts and light conditioning.
* **Physical Clearance:** Along with tee work, Judge has been cleared to run outdoors, play catch, and resume upper-body resistance training.
* **Target Return:** The Yankees have not set a definitive target date, but both the team and Judge remain optimistic about a return to the lineup at some point in September before the regular season concludes.
**Impact on the Yankees’ Lineup**
The Yankees have felt Judge’s absence heavily down the stretch. During August, the team ranked near the bottom of the majors in team batting average and overall offensive production, sliding behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East race while holding onto a Wild Card spot. With fellow sluggers like Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger also managing injuries, Judge’s eventual return remains the focal point for New York’s postseason push.
**2026 Production Before Injury**
| Metric | Stat |
|—|—|
| **Games Played** | 59 |
| **Batting Average** | .248 |
| **Home Runs** | 17 |
| **RBIs** | 38 |
| **OPS** | .907 |
While Judge’s streak of consecutive MVP-caliber campaigns was halted by the prolonged stint on the 60-day IL, his primary focus is getting fully cleared for live pitching and rehab games. Progress updates will depend on how his rib responds as he advances from tee work to soft toss and live batting practice in th
e coming weeks.
