A Mending Rib Stalls Judge’s Return
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge remains sidelined with a fractured first right rib. Team manager Aaron Boone confirmed the slugger is at least two weeks away from further imaging to assess his healing progress, a timeline that threatens to push Judge’s absence into August.
Waiting on the Scan
The Yankees are monitoring Judge’s physical response to rehabilitation before committing to a new medical evaluation. According to Boone, the club is waiting for the outfielder to demonstrate sufficient progress to warrant a new scan.
“It’s probably a couple weeks still from reimaging,” Boone stated. “They’ll determine when they feel like he’s doing stuff that warrants, ‘Alright, let’s go reimage it now.’ We’re not at that point yet.”
While his return date remains fluid, Judge has started light physical activity. He is currently incorporating lower-body exercises into his weight room routine, showing visible improvement in his movement throughout the week.
Offensive Output Dips
The loss of Judge has coincided with a sharp decline in the Yankees’ offensive production. Following the June 4 announcement, the team surged to a 10-2 record from June 4-19. That momentum has since evaporated.
In the past 10 games, the Yankees struggled, dropping eight of those contests. The offense averaged just 2.6 runs per game during that span.
The Mechanics of a Core Injury
Fractured ribs in professional baseball often require extended rest to ensure the bone heals without complications. Because the injury targets the core—the primary engine of a hitter’s swing—the team’s cautious approach is standard practice to prevent a setback.
The initial June 4 diagnosis established a four-to-six-week window for the next round of imaging. By waiting, medical staff hope to ensure the fracture has stabilized enough for Judge to transition toward baseball-specific activities, such as swinging a bat.
Timeline and Performance Data
The New York Yankees officially announced the diagnosis of a fractured first right rib on June 4. The recovery process relies entirely on the healing rate of the bone; the team must confirm the rib is mended before Judge can safely resume high-intensity activities.
The team’s performance has been bifurcated. After an initial surge of 10 wins in 12 games, the Yankees experienced a slump, losing eight of their next 10 games while struggling to generate run support.
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