NEW YORK, New York — New York Yankees fans have another reason to be excited as captain Aaron Judge delivered a confident message about his plan to return after spending extended time sidelined because of injury.
The Yankees superstar has not played since May 31 after dealing with a right rib issue, but his recovery process has been progressing positively in recent days.
Instead of going through a Minor League rehab assignment, Judge wants his next game to take place directly on the MLB stage.
The decision quickly attracted major attention as Yankees fans believe their captain is ready to return at the most important moment of the season.
Judge believes he does not want to waste at-bats in games that do not carry competitive meaning, because he already has enough experience to understand what his body needs before returning.
“Why waste at-bats? Why go down to Double A or Triple A to play when I can prepare right here? I have played this game for a long time and I know what I need to do to come back. Let’s go Yankees.”
That message immediately created excitement throughout the Yankees fan community, who have been waiting for the return of one of MLB’s most dangerous hitters.
However, the final decision still belongs to the Yankees coaching staff, and manager Aaron Boone’s response drew even more attention from fans.
Boone said Judge had shared his desire and confirmed that the team will make a decision based on the player’s actual condition rather than relying only on feelings.
The Yankees manager emphasized that the recovery process is not only about hitting ability, but also about helping the player regain game rhythm and feel in real situations.
“Sometimes the purpose of rehab games is to help players get comfortable with competition again. But there are also other ways to prepare. When that time comes, we will make the decision together.”
Currently, Judge has already returned to many important baseball activities such as running, throwing from distances beyond 100 feet, hitting off a tee, and taking batting practice sessions.
He is also using the Trajekt simulator to regain his timing against pitch velocity, while also facing Yankees pitchers who are in their own recovery process.
Despite the very positive progress, Judge still has some challenges before officially returning, especially his ability to handle high-velocity pitches in real game situations.
The team will also be careful with how they use him defensively, as Boone said the Yankees do not want Judge making dangerous diving plays during the early stages of his return.
Judge agrees with that cautious approach, but he confirmed that his competitive mindset will not change when he steps back onto the field.
The return of the Yankees captain carries enormous importance as the team’s offense has faced significant struggles since he left the lineup.
With his ability to create elite offensive power, Judge is viewed as a crucial piece who can help the Yankees accelerate in the playoff race.
There is currently no official return date, but Aaron Judge’s message has brought major confidence to New York fans: their captain is on his way back and ready to fight when the most important moment arrives.
