New York—After missing more than three months with a broken right rib, Aaron Judge rejoined the New York Yankees’ active roster on Monday night. The three‑time MVP’s return comes as the Yankees prepare to host the Colorado Rockies for a three‑game series.
Judge’s Road to Recovery
Judge’s last game before the injury was on May 31. He suffered the fracture while attempting to avoid a slide from second‑baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. during a diving catch in Houston on April 26. Following the injury, Judge traveled with the team on their West Coast trip, taking batting practice in San Diego and running the bases to stay sharp.
“If I tell them I’m ready to go play, I think we’re ready to go play,” Judge said on Aug. 27. “I’m not a pitcher. I’m a position player. I can get my reps down here in the cage. I’m in every game. I’m sitting there in the dugout watching every game, feeling the environment, feeling the energy, so I don’t think there’s going to be much of a difference.”
Impact on the Yankees
During Judge’s 84‑game absence, New York’s offense slipped. The team batted .243 with 86 home runs in the 59 games before his injury, but fell to .227 with 107 homers in the 84 games without him. The Yankees’ batting average during that stretch ranked 29th out of 30 MLB teams, ahead of only Seattle (.225). Their OPS dropped from .770 to .681.
Since Judge’s return, he is hitting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs. Before the injury, he was batting .263 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 31 games.
Yankees’ Playoff Position
With 19 games left in the regular season, the Yankees (81‑62) trail first‑place Tampa Bay by four games in the AL East. They sit two games ahead of Boston (80‑65) for the top American League wild‑card spot and hold a potential tiebreaker after winning the season series against the Red Sox.
The higher seed will host the best‑of‑three Wild Card Series, giving the Yankees a home‑field advantage if they clinch the wild‑card.
Roster Moves
To make room for Judge on the 40‑man roster, right‑hander Chase Hampton was designated for assignment Monday night. Additionally, right‑hander Elmer Rodríguez was optioned to Triple‑A Scranton/Wilkes‑Barre after Sunday’s loss in San Diego.
Looking Ahead
Judge’s return bolsters a lineup that has struggled without his power. The Yankees will look to capitalize on his presence as they push for a postseason berth in the final stretch of the season.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
