New York Mets and Yankees’ Aaron Judge hits a single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, May 3, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Judge Set to Rejoin Yankees for Crucial Final Stretch
After more than three months on the injured list, Aaron Judge is officially back. The Yankees reinstated their captain from the 60‑day IL on Monday night, giving New York a major boost as they begin a three‑game home series against the Colorado Rockies. Judge has not played since May 31 due to a broken right rib, but his return arrives at a moment when the Yankees need every ounce of production to secure their postseason position.
Judge spent the past week traveling with the team on its West Coast swing, taking batting practice on the field in San Diego and running the bases as he ramped up toward activation. True to his word, he skipped a minor league rehab assignment, insisting he could get the necessary reps in the cage and by staying locked into every game from the dugout.
Yankees Eye Division Race and Wild Card Position
With nineteen games remaining, New York sits at 81‑62, four games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East. They hold a two‑game edge over Boston for the top American League wild card and own the tiebreaker after winning the season series. Securing that top wild card spot would guarantee Yankee Stadium hosts the entire best‑of‑three Wild Card Series.
Judge’s absence reshaped the Yankees’ offensive identity. Before he went down, New York hit .243 with 86 homers and carried a .770 OPS. In the 84 games without him, the team batted just .227 with a .681 OPS, ranking near the bottom of the league. His return restores a middle‑of‑the‑order presence the Yankees have struggled to replace.
Captain Returns with Impact Potential
Judge enters the stretch run hitting .248 with 17 homers and 38 RBIs. His last homer before the injury was a walk‑off shot against Tampa Bay on May 24, ending an 11‑game drought without an RBI. Now healthy, he steps back into a lineup that has leaned heavily on Cody Bellinger, Anthony Volpe, and Gleyber Torres to carry the load.
To make room on the roster, New York designated right‑hander Chase Hampton for assignment and optioned Elmer Rodríguez to Triple‑A. With Judge back, the Yankees regain their most influential bat at the most important time of the season
