Aaron Judge returned to the New York Yankees’ active roster on September 7 after more than three months on the injured list with a broken right rib, rejoining the lineup for a home series against the Colorado Rockies without a minor league rehab assignment.
Judge last played on May 31 before the rib injury sidelined him. He spent the following weeks progressing through baseball activities, taking batting practice on the field during the Yankees’ recent trip to San Diego and running the bases as team medical staff cleared him for game action. The Yankees moved him directly from the 60-day injured list to the active roster rather than sending him through a rehab stint in the minors.
What does his return mean for the Yankees’ lineup?
New York’s offense had leaned on other hitters to cover for Judge’s absence over the past several months, and manager Aaron Boone slotted the three-time MVP back into his customary spot as the team opened a three-game set against Colorado. The Yankees have been positioning their roster for a postseason push, and Judge’s bat gives the lineup a different look heading into the stretch run of the season.
The Yankees have not detailed a specific plan for managing Judge’s workload in the days immediately following his activation, though the team’s medical staff will continue to monitor the rib injury as he returns to everyday game speed. Judge missed 84 games during the absence, one of the longer injury layoffs of his career.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · NBC Sports · Sports Illustrated
