Under normal circumstances, Aaron Judge throwing a baseball back and forth wouldn’t attract much attention, as it is just an ordinary daily activity for an athlete.
However, Judge has been sidelined from his professional duties since being diagnosed with a fractured rib in early June. Four weeks ago, medical scans indicated that although his injury was starting to mend, the progress was insufficient for the three-time AL MVP to start practicing baseball again.
Nonetheless, Judge made significant strides toward rejoining the New York Yankees roster on Friday when he engaged in a game of catch for the first time in several months. He also participated in running drills, marking another milestone in his recovery since his diagnosis.
Does this development indicate that Judge will make his comeback before the regular season concludes, given that there are only 39 games and six weeks left on the calendar? While Yankees skipper Aaron Boone hesitated to give a definitive yes, he expressed confidence that the team captain would be back on the field this year.
“Our expectation is to have him back, but since we are just starting up baseball-related drills, we are hoping for continued progress,” Boone remarked, according to MLB.com. “He has been away from the game for quite some time, meaning there are still many hurdles to clear.”
Before being placed on the injured list, Judge recorded a batting line of .248/.375/.533, contributing 17 home runs and driving in 38 runs over the course of 59 appearances.
Predictably, the Yankees’ offensive output has struggled in his absence. Prior to Judge’s injury, the team had racked up 305 runs, putting them in fourth place league-wide. Since his departure, New York has managed only 241 runs. Their cumulative total of 547 runs puts them at 15th in the majors, while their .230 team batting average stands as the second-lowest in the American League, and their .716 OPS is locked in a tie for 16th.
With Judge out of action, the Yankees have posted a 32-31 record, falling from just 1.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East lead to a seven-game deficit following a 4-1 defeat by the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Even so, New York maintains a comfortable eight-game advantage for the top American League wild-card berth.
Judge was not the sole New York player on the mend who made positive strides in their rehabilitation process on Friday.
Giancarlo Stanton, who has been sidelined by a calf strain, was seen running the bases and taking batting practice. Furthermore, Cody Bellinger, out with a pulled hamstring, performed sprint drills in the outfield, per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. The Yankees’ left fielder might initiate a minor league rehabilitation stint in the coming week, assuming he remains pain-free.
