Judge Injury Update
Aaron Judge's Fractured Rib Healing, But Yankees Await Specialist Guidance for Return
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Key Points
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Judge has been restricted to lower-body work and cardio, with neck exercises allowed but no heavy lifting or upper-body training.
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A new MRI showed 'some progress, some healing going on' but not enough to move beyond lower-body exercises, with plans for further imaging and guidance from Dr. Gregory Pearl.
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There are 66 games left in the season and the Aug. 3 trade deadline looming, underscoring the need for a careful ramp-up to avoid setbacks.
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Judge’s injury history includes a stress fracture of the same rib and a partially collapsed lung from a diving catch, added context to the severity of the healing process.
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Before the injury, Judge was 17 homers in 59 games with a .248 average and 38 RBIs, a benchmark that illustrates the magnitude of his absence.
Aaron Judge still cannot swing a bat, throw a ball, or lift a weight above his waist. The Yankees captain has not played since May 31 due to a fractured first right rib that, despite a new MRI showing "some progress, some healing going on," remains far from fully healed, according to NY Daily News.
With 66 games left in the regular season and a trade deadline on Aug. 3 fast approaching, the Yankees are waiting on Dallas-based specialist Dr. Gregory Pearl to say what Judge can do next — and when the next round of imaging will happen, North Jersey reports.
Rib Healing But Not Enough to Resume Baseball Work
A fresh MRI gave the Yankees a sliver of good news. The rib is healing — but not fast enough. Judge has been cleared only for lower-body workouts, cardio, and neck exercises. Upper-body training and any baseball activity are still off-limits, Saratogian reports.
Dr. Gregory Pearl, a specialist in Dallas, is expected to review the imaging and map out the next steps. He will set the pace for when Judge can safely progress and when doctors should scan the rib again, according to Yahoo Sports.
Judge's Injury History Makes This Recovery More Complicated
This is not Judge's first run-in with this exact rib. He previously suffered a stress fracture in the same first right rib. He also once had a partially collapsed lung after a diving catch. That history adds weight to how carefully the team is managing his return, NY Daily News reports.
The Yankees are not rushing. Manager Aaron Boone has said the timeline remains unclear. Judge himself is optimistic about playing again this season, but neither the team nor the medical staff can put a date on it yet, according to North Jersey.
Yankees Struggling Without Their Best Hitter in the Lineup
Before he got hurt, Judge was one of the best hitters in baseball. In 59 games, he hit 17 home runs, drove in 38 runs, and posted a .248 batting average. Losing him has punched a hole in a lineup the Yankees can't easily fill, Saratogian reports.
New York is currently sitting outside the playoff pace. Every week Judge spends on the sideline makes the math harder. The Aug. 3 trade deadline may force the front office to act — whether or not Judge looks close to returning — according to North Jersey.
A Careful Ramp-Up Is the Only Path Back
The Yankees know one bad move could push Judge's return into 2026. Their plan is simple: let the bone heal fully, get Pearl's clearance, then build up slowly. No shortcuts. A setback now would cost far more time than a cautious wait, Yahoo Sports reports.
Judge says he feels confident he will play again this season. But confidence alone won't move the timeline. The next imaging session and Pearl's guidance will be the real deciders, according to NY Daily News.
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