Overview
- Judge ran and played catch on Friday, Aug. 15, marking his first throwing activity since he left play on May 31 following a right first‑rib stress fracture.
- Scans on Aug. 5 showed enough healing for light workouts, which cleared Judge for outdoor running and upper‑body resistance before progressing to on‑field baseball actions.
- The Yankees have not scheduled batting or game throwing for Judge and manager Aaron Boone declined to give a return date, saying the team will advance him based on scans and pain‑free responses.
- Judge has said he expects to return this season, and an Apple TV report relayed an informal one‑month estimate from a conversation with Boone, but the club has not confirmed that timeline.
- Judge’s absence has coincided with a clear offensive drop for New York, and his 2019 rib injury and variable bone‑healing timelines explain the team’s conservative, stepwise approach to avoid setbacks.