Aaron Judge Begins Rehab Training as Yankees Await Return

Aaron Judge has been authorized to start upper-body training and light running drills, marking his first significant on-field activity since being placed on the injured list on June 2 due to a stress fracture in his right rib.

Despite this progress, Judge is still experiencing some discomfort during his recovery. Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that the team will gradually increase Judge's training as he approaches full recovery. However, there is currently no established timeline for his return, with General Manager Brian Cashman emphasizing the importance of ensuring Judge is fully prepared before he resumes play.

While all parties involved have confirmed that Judge will return to play in 2026, it appears unlikely that he will be back before the end of August, given that he is still in the early stages of rehabilitation. The Yankees have struggled offensively in his absence, scoring only 226 runs in the 59 games since his last appearance, relying heavily on their pitching to maintain a position in the AL wild card race.