Aaron Judge remains optimistic that he will return before the end of the 2026 season, but the New York Yankees captain has not yet resumed any baseball activities as he continues recovering from a fractured right rib.
Speaking before the Yankees opened the second half against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Judge said he still believes he'll play again this year. However, he acknowledged there has been no progress toward swinging a bat or throwing, with the club continuing to wait for the injury to heal before advancing his rehabilitation.
The judge has been sidelined since June 5 with a fractured first right rib. Follow-up imaging during the All-Star break showed encouraging signs of healing, but not enough for doctors to clear him for baseball activities.
Judge's latest update reinforces that his confidence about returning is based on expectation rather than an imminent timetable. Until he begins baseball workouts, the Yankees cannot establish a target date for a rehab assignment or major league return.
Before suffering the injury, Judge remained one of the American League's top hitters despite a slight dip in production. Across 59 games, he batted .248 with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs and a .907 OPS while anchoring New York's lineup.
The Yankees have struggled to consistently replace that production. Entering the second half, New York owns a 54-42 record and sits second in the American League East, 2.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays after going 12-13 since Judge landed on the injured list.
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New York's injury concerns extend beyond Judge. Giancarlo Stanton remains sidelined after aggravating his calf, while Carlos Rodón recently joined the injured list with left elbow inflammation. Max Fried is progressing toward a rehab assignment after throwing a successful bullpen session.
For now, the Yankees' biggest priority is getting Judge healthy rather than rushing his recovery. While the superstar believes he'll return before the season ends, his next meaningful milestone will be resuming baseball activities, something that has yet to happen.
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