Aaron Judge Aims to Skip Rehab Games for Quick Return

Aaron Judge expresses confidence in returning without rehab games, focusing on maximizing preparation and playing smart after a rib injury.

NEW YORK — New York Yankees star Aaron Judge recently revealed that he does not intend to participate in a rehab assignment prior to making his comeback from a fractured right rib. This injury has sidelined him since June 2.

During a media session at Yankee Stadium ahead of the series finale against the Houston Astros, Judge questioned the need for rehab games, stating, “Why waste at-bats?” He added, “I’ve been doing this for a while now, and I’ve got a sense of what I need to do on the field and how to manage it.” Judge cited his experience from 2023, when he missed nearly two months due to a toe injury and forwent a rehab assignment, ultimately returning to post a .966 OPS in 57 games.

“We’re in a good spot,” Judge mentioned, indicating that he has faced no setbacks during his recovery, which he considers to be the most favorable outcome. He expressed confidence that the Yankees would support his decision to skip rehab games, pointing to teammate Cody Bellinger’s similar experience of participating in only two rehab games after a month-long absence due to a strained hamstring.

Judge reinforced his readiness, asserting, “I feel like if I tell them I’m ready to go play, I think we’re ready to go play. I’m not a pitcher. I’m a position player. I get my reps down here in the cage, and I’ve been to every game. I’ve been sitting there in the dugout watching every game.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged Judge’s comments, stating, “If and when we get to that point, we’ll work through all that.” However, Boone emphasized that rehab games are useful for building players up and preparing them for the demands of game situations.

Since Judge’s absence began, the Yankees have noticeably struggled offensively, ranking 26th in runs scored with just 290 and sitting second-to-last in wRC+ at 89. Judge aims to return as a full-time right fielder, emphasizing that he will play smart, especially considering that he suffered the injury while diving for a fly ball while trying to continue playing through the pain.

“I’m still going to go out there and make every play I can,” Judge stated. He acknowledged the possibility that he might not return with the same power or bat speed but remained optimistic: “Even if it’s a tick off, I think it’s still better than nothing.”

To prepare for his return, Judge plans to leverage alternative training methods, including workouts with a Trajekt pitching machine, designed to mimic the pitches of specific MLB pitchers, as well as participating in live batting practice against rehabbing pitchers.

“There’s plenty of options to get that timing back,” Judge said. “I’m not really expecting it to take me too long to get the timing back. Hopefully it’ll be quick, and we’ll get back out there.”

Manager Boone also emphasized the importance of Judge’s physical conditioning, noting that rebuilding strength and endurance will be crucial after being inactive for a month and a half. Boone reflected on the challenges of returning from injury, saying, “The biggest thing now is, again, not so much even the injury as it is building the body up to handle the rigors.” He added that Judge needs to reacclimatize to the physical demands of swinging a bat frequently.

With ongoing support and careful management, it seems Judge is on a promising path toward a swift return to the Yankees’ lineup.