Making his first appearance since May 31, back-to-back AL MVP Aaron Judge is set to rejoin the New York Yankees’ starting lineup on Tuesday for their home matchup against the Colorado Rockies. Having activated Judge from the injured list on Monday evening, the Yankees are counting on him to bolster their bid for the AL East title and spearhead a deep playoff run. The team has just 19 matchups left in their regular season schedule.
“My goal was a June 1 return, but it wasn’t meant to be,” Judge mentioned over the weekend (as reported by MLB.com). “… We are ready to get back on the field and maintain an intelligent approach, particularly throughout the remainder of this campaign and into October.”
The 35-year-old outfielder sustained the injury while making a diving play back in late April, though he continued to play through the discomfort for over a month. Prior to being sidelined, he appeared in 59 contests, posting a slash line of .248/.375/.533 alongside 17 homers, which included a slump of .171/.271/.293 during his last 11 active appearances. Even with his lengthy absence dating back to May 31, Judge remains among the top 30 outfielders in MLB with a 2.2 WAR.
In Judge’s absence, New York’s offense has sputtered, averaging a mere 4.06 runs per contest, marking the fifth-lowest output in the majors. They managed to post a 45-39 record over this stretch primarily due to their stellar pitching staff, which ranks among the elite in the league this season. Quite predictably, the lineup has struggled without Judge’s impact, and the Yankees desperately require his power and leadership in the dugout.
“We have experienced extended periods where our bats went cold,” commented manager Aaron Boone over the weekend (per MLB.com). “A significant factor in those struggles is missing your premier player. However, I believe we’ve seen positive signs over the past fortnight as our offensive production has begun to rise. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome him back into the fold.”
As the superstar prepares to suit up again this Tuesday, here are three pressing questions facing both Judge and the Yankees.
1. What level of performance can the Yankees expect from Judge?
By convincing team management to bypass a standard minor-league rehabilitation stint, Judge is taking a direct path back. He spent the past week facing high-speed pitching simulators, participated in team batting practice over the weekend, and took swings against live arms on Monday at Yankee Stadium. While these preparation methods are valuable, he is diving straight back into major league action without any tune-up games in the minors.
“I didn’t see the purpose of it. Why use up plate appearances down there?” Judge remarking regarding his decision to bypass rehab games (via MLB.com). “… I have confidence in my power and swing speed. Even if I’m slightly off-tempo initially, I believe my contribution is still valuable.”
Boone hinted at utilizing the upcoming series as a makeshift rehabilitation period, meaning they might pull Judge early in games or rotate him with scheduled off-days. Considering his three-month layoff and lack of minor-league game action, it is highly improbable that Judge will immediately resume a heavy workload. It may take at least a week before he is cleared to play full nine-inning contests on consecutive days.
Back in 2023, after being sidelined for nearly two months with a toe issue, Judge also chose to bypass a rehab stint, resulting in a slow start where he went 5-for-27 (.185) with a single home run and eight strikeouts over his initial nine appearances. He exhibited noticeable rust then, and a similar adjustment period is expected now. The primary objective for New York is ensuring he is fully primed for playoff baseball, making any temporary struggles acceptable if it means having him at 100 percent come October.
2. How will the Yankees configure their outfield rotation?
This dilemma was far more pressing before starting center fielder Trent Grisham went down with a Grade 2 hamstring strain over the weekend, landing him on the 15-day injured list. First-year player Spencer Jones had been patrolling right field recently and executing at a higher level than Grisham, which originally pointed to a difficult playing-time decision once Judge returned. That roster headache has now been resolved by circumstance.
Take a look at how Grisham and Jones match up statistically since the All-Star break:
|
PA |
181 |
141 |
|
AVG |
.170 |
.254 |
|
OBP |
.261 |
.321 |
|
SLG |
.352 |
.492 |
|
HR |
8 |
7 |
|
WAR |
-0.4 |
0.7 |
New York needed to clear a space on the active roster to accommodate Judge, a process complicated by the fact that Jones represents one of the few roster options with minor-league eligibility. The team was faced with either optioning Jones or parting ways with a veteran like Amed Rosario, who, despite diminished success against left-handed pitchers, remains a valuable reserve. Grisham’s stint on the IL ultimately solved this puzzle, leaving a roster spot vacant.
Jasson Domínguez was initially recalled to take Grisham’s place, sharing right-field duties with Heliot Ramos for a brief period. However, Domínguez has now been optioned back down to make room for Judge. Looking ahead, the projected outfield configuration will feature Judge in right field, Jones handling center, and Cody Bellinger stationed in left. Ramos is slated to start against left-handed pitchers, most likely subbing in for Jones, while also providing rest days for Bellinger or Judge when needed.
3. Is an AL East division title still within reach for the Yankees?
From a purely mathematical standpoint, the Yankees remain very much alive in the division race. Indeed, they hold their fate in their own hands: if they secure victories in all their remaining matchups, they will clinch the crown. From a practical perspective, however, they face a steep climb. Let’s look at the current AL East standings:
- Rays: 85-58
- Yankees: 81-62 (4 GB)
- Red Sox: 80-65 (6 GB)
- Blue Jays: 72-72 (13.5 GB)
- Orioles: 70-75 (16 GB)
A crucial four-game, three-day series between the Yankees and the Rays is scheduled at Yankee Stadium from September 22 to 24. Should the Yankees remain within a four-game margin leading up to that matchup, they stay in contention. However, a single victory for Tampa Bay during that series secures them the head-to-head tiebreaker. In all likelihood, New York must close the gap to just one or two games before that series begins to have a genuine shot.
To put it simply: if the Rays post a 9-10 record over their last 19 contests, the Yankees would need to finish 13-6 to take the AL East, assuming they pull off a four-game sweep of Tampa. If they fail to sweep, New York’s target rises to 14-5. While not impossible, it remains a difficult task. The return of Judge undoubtedly improves the Yankees’ divisional prospects, and his impact will be even greater if he immediately rediscovers his MVP-caliber production.
