Judge Rehab Progresses
Yankees Star Aaron Judge Begins Rib Rehab, Plays Catch; Return Date Still Unknown
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge played catch and ran in New York on Friday for the first time since breaking his right rib, taking a key step in his recovery, according to Yahoo Sports. Judge has not played since May 31, but he plans to return before the season ends.
Manager Aaron Boone called Friday's activity "just part of the ramp-up to baseball activity," per Yahoo Sports. However, Boone said he did not know when Judge would be ready to rejoin the team. Judge was cleared to begin light workouts on August 5.
How Judge Got Hurt and Where He Stands
Judge suffered a broken right rib that has kept him out of the lineup since May 31. The injury sidelined the Yankees' best hitter for more than two months. Before going down, he was hitting .248 with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs, and a .907 OPS, according to LMT Online.
A .907 OPS means Judge was getting on base and hitting for extra power at an elite rate. Even in a shortened season, those numbers rank among the best in the American League. His absence has been a major blow to New York's lineup.
Playing Catch Marks First Real Baseball Activity
Friday's catch session was a milestone. It was the first time Judge had thrown a baseball since his injury. He also ran during the workout, both signs that his rib is healing enough to handle physical stress, according to Las Vegas Sun.
Doctors cleared Judge to begin light activity on August 5. Playing catch and running are early steps in a baseball ramp-up. After those, a player typically moves to hitting off a tee, then live batting practice, and then a minor league rehab assignment before rejoining the big league club.
Boone Offers No Timeline for Judge's Return
Despite the progress, Boone was careful not to set any expectations. He did not give a target date for Judge's return. That kind of caution is common with rib injuries, which are slow to heal and hard to rush, per WOKV.
The Yankees are in the thick of the AL East race, and Judge's return could be a huge boost. But pushing him back too soon risks making the injury worse. For now, the team is taking it one step at a time.
What a Late-Season Return Could Mean for New York
Judge is a three-time AL MVP and eight-time All-Star. He is the engine of the Yankees' offense. Getting him back, even for the final weeks of the regular season, could change the team's playoff outlook, according to Click On Detroit.
The Yankees will need to monitor his progress closely. Every step — throwing, running, hitting — must come without pain before he can return to game action. Friday's catch session was encouraging, but a firm return date remains unknown.
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