Aaron Judge Advances Rehab with Tee Work as Yankees Eye Late-Season Return

While the New York Yankees were preparing for a division clash at Camden Yards, the most significant swings of their week were taking place back in the Bronx. Aaron Judge advanced his rehab from a fractured rib by taking tee swings at Yankee Stadium, marking a critical milestone in his recovery after nearly three months on the shelf.

The captain's absence since May 31 against the Oakland Athletics has left a substantial void in the middle of New York's order. Sitting at 69-55 and holding second place in the American League East, the club has navigated a tight pennant chase while waiting for their star slugger, who was batting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs before going down.

Rebuilding the Swing: From Pool Work to Dry-Land Reps

Judge’s path back to full baseball activities required a carefully phased rehabilitation. Initial steps were limited to low-impact mobility before progressing to throwing catch and aquatic conditioning. Manager Aaron Boone noted that Judge spent recent days performing swing-related movements in a pool to maintain rotational strength without stressing his healing rib cage, alongside outdoor running drills.

Thursday’s session on dry land represented the clearest indication yet that his timeline is accelerating.

It went well, Boone said regarding Judge’s tee work prior to New York’s 6-1 win in Baltimore. It will be good to see him [Friday] when we get home.

Reporting for Fox Sports, Ken Rosenthal indicated that Judge is aiming to rejoin the big-league roster between late August and early September. Rosenthal highlighted that Judge prefers to skip formal minor league rehab assignments, meaning his conditioning and timing are being built primarily through internal workouts, outdoor running, and upper-body resistance training.

Roster Cascades and the Outfield Depth Chart

Judge’s long stretch on the injured list, combined with Giancarlo Stanton’s absence since April due to calf injuries, has placed an unusual burden on the roster. Young outfielders Spencer Jones and Heliot Ramos have logged significantly more innings than planned. However, reinforcements may be approaching from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

• Cody Bellinger: Out since July 25 with a hamstring strain, Bellinger launched a rehab assignment with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, going 1-for-3 as the designated hitter. The team has not ruled out a potential return during the upcoming home series against Toronto.
• Giancarlo Stanton: Continues a running program in Tampa as he works back from long-standing calf issues.
• Ryan McMahon: Left third base Thursday after jamming his left thumb sliding into second base on Wednesday against Baltimore. Initial X-rays were negative for a fracture, with further scans scheduled in New York.
• Mitch Garver: Signed to a minor league deal following his release from Seattle, Garver has spent a week working with SWB as potential right-handed depth behind catcher Austin Wells.
• Ben Hess: The organization's 2024 first-round draft pick and fourth-ranked pitching prospect was placed on the 60-day injured list after recording 56.2 innings at Double-A.

Pennant Push and the Ultimate Milestone

Under contract into the 2030s on a $360 million deal, Judge has already assembled a decorated individual resume. He captured AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 with 52 home runs, earned AL MVP awards in 2022 and 2024, and boasts six All-Star selections. As he approaches 400 career home runs, his place in franchise history is established, yet the ultimate goal of a World Series title remains the primary driver for his late-season push.

With the calendar turning toward September, getting their captain back into the outfield and the heart of the order represents the Yankees' best chance to stabilize their lineup for October.