New York – After missing 99 days with a broken rib, Aaron Judge stepped back into the Yankees’ lineup on Tuesday night. The three‑time AL MVP started in right field and batted third as New York faced the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium.
Judge’s Performance and Season Context
Coming off the injured list, Judge entered the game with a .248 batting average, 17 home runs, 38 RBIs and a .907 OPS. The 34‑year‑old power hitter had missed 84 games since his last appearance on May 31, when he was sidelined by a rib fracture sustained while attempting to avoid second‑baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. during a diving‑catch attempt in Houston on April 26.
Before the injury, Judge was hitting .263 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 31 games. He had recorded just one home run in the 18 games preceding his stint on the injured list.
Team Impact While Judge Was Out
During Judge’s absence, the Yankees posted a 45‑39 record, dropping their team batting average to .227 with 107 homers and a .681 OPS. That average ranked 29th among the 30 major‑league clubs, ahead of only Seattle at .225. By contrast, the club was 36‑23 when Judge last played on May 31, and the team’s overall line through May 31 was .243 with 86 homers and a .770 OPS.
New York entered the latest stretch at 81‑62, sitting four games behind AL East‑leading Tampa Bay and two games ahead of Boston (80‑65) for the top AL wild‑card spot. The Yankees also hold a potential tiebreaker over the Red Sox after winning the season series.
Last Season’s Success
Judge’s 2025 campaign was a career high, as he posted a .331 average with 53 home runs and 114 RBIs in 152 games, earning his third MVP award and his first batting title. He missed ten games from July 26 to Aug. 4 due to a flexor strain in his right elbow, treated with a plasma‑rich platelet injection and no offseason surgery.
Earlier, in 2023, Judge skipped a minor‑league rehab assignment after a fractured right big toe forced him out for 42 games. He returned to hit .245 with 18 homers, 35 RBIs and a .965 OPS over 57 games.
Looking Ahead
With Judge back in the lineup, the Yankees hope to boost their offensive production as the season heads into its final stretch. The team’s recent performance suggests that Judge’s power and on‑base skills could be pivotal in securing a postseason berth.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
