Aaron Judge Returns To Yankees Lineup After Missing 84 Games

Aaron Judge is back with the New York Yankees after a nearly three-month absence caused by a broken rib. The star outfielder started Tuesday night in right field against the Colorado Rockies, batting third in the lineup. This marks his first game since May 31, meaning he has missed 84 contests total. He bypassed any minor league rehabilitation assignment to return immediately.

The 34-year-old enters this matchup hitting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs. His on-base plus slugging sits at a solid .907. The injury occurred during an attempt to make a diving catch in Houston on April 26, where he tried to avoid second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. Before going on the injured list, Judge posted a .263 average with seven homers and 20 RBIs in those initial 31 games. He managed just one home run during his final 18 games before leaving.

The team's record shifted noticeably when he was out. New York stood at 36-23 following his last appearance, but they dropped to 45-39 without him. Offensively, the squad hit .243 with 86 homers and a .770 OPS through May 31. During Judge's absence, their average fell to .227 while still managing 107 homers, though their on-base plus slugging dipped to .681. That batting average ranked 29th among all 30 major league teams, just ahead of Seattle at .225.

Standing at 81-62 before this game, the Yankees trail AL East leader Tampa Bay by four games but hold a two-game lead over Boston (80-65) for the top wild card spot. They possess a potential tiebreaker advantage over the Red Sox after winning their season series together. Judge had a historic 2024 campaign last year, slashing .331 with a career-high 53 homers and 114 RBIs in 152 games to win his third MVP award and first batting title. He did miss ten games from July 26 through August 4 due to a flexor strain in his right elbow sustained on a throw home plate in Toronto back on July 22. Medical treatment involved a plasma-rich platelet injection, so no offseason surgery was needed.

History shows these injuries are not new for the player. He skipped a rehab assignment in 2023 after missing 42 games with a fractured right big toe from crashing into the right-field fence at Dodger Stadium. Upon returning that season, he hit .245 with 18 homers and 35 RBIs across 57 games for an on-base plus slugging of .965. The Associated Press provided this reporting.