The New York Yankees have played to a near .500 record since Aaron Judge's last appearance with the club on May 31, with a 32-31 record. In that time, the Yankees have fallen from a first-place team in the American League East to second place, 6.5 games behind the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
On Saturday, per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News Sports, manager Aaron Boone provided a hopeful update on when the club could get the 34-year-old captain back into the lineup.
"Aaron Boone said a timeline of a month 'could be' in play, though nothing is set in stone," Phillips wrote on X.
Phillips added that Judge is still healing from the stress fracture in his rib but is working his way back.
Before the injury, Judge was playing to another strong season, slashing .248/.375/.533 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs in 59 games. The three-time AL MVP first felt discomfort in the rib after diving for a fly ball during an April 26 game in Houston, continuing to play through the injury before eventually landing on the IL.
The Yankees captain has since made progress through recovery, beginning with being cleared for light activity including running and upper-body resistance training, and now being able to play catch.
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New York remains in position for the top AL Wild Card spot even through Judge's absence from the team, but time is starting to run out if the Yankees were to make a run for the AL East lead, as it would take Judge's return to the lineup in time to elevate their chances to do so. If not, the Yankees would at least get their captain back healthy, just in time for the postseason.
