Aaron Judge is moving closer to a return, and the Yankees are starting to get a better feel for what that could mean as they prepare to face the Astros on Tuesday night.
The latest update came from Gary Phillips of NY Daily News, who reported that Judge took batting practice in the cage, did throwing work, and kept advancing his running progression. That’s a meaningful step for a player who has been out of action for 86 days.
Aaron Judge is doing cage BP today, in addition to running. He's thrown at over 100 feet. #Yankees
- Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) August 25, 2026
Judge, now 34, hurt himself on April 26 while diving for a ball in the outfield. He kept playing through the fracture in his first right rib for more than a month before going on the injured list on June 5. He last appeared in a game on May 31.
Even with their superstar sidelined, the Yankees have managed to hang around in the race. At 74-56, they sit second in the American League East, 3.5 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.
The offense, though, has felt the absence. Since June 1, New York ranks 29th in MLB with a .671 team OPS. Rookie outfielder Spencer Jones has been the most productive hitter in that stretch, putting up a .799 OPS.
Judge’s own numbers reflect the grind of trying to play through the injury. In 59 games, he has hit .248/.375/.533 with a .908 OPS, 17 home runs, and 38 RBIs.
Exactly when he’ll be back remains unclear, but the signs are pointing in the right direction. Suzyn Waldman recently said she expects Judge to return around September 10.
For now, Jones has been the main man in right field. He became an everyday player on July 29 because of other outfield injuries and has slugged .519 over 87 plate appearances since then.
Judge’s return will force a shake-up, but Jones has clearly made his case to stay in the conversation. If Trent Grisham keeps struggling defensively in center field, Jones could even become a bench option in October.
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