Yankees' ace player, Aaron Judge, engages in certain baseball undertakings, as updates on his injury status emerge.
Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees' star outfielder, is set to return to the lineup on Tuesday, August 6, 2025, after a 10-day stint on the injured list due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. Despite the injury, Judge has been making progress in his recovery, with tests revealing no damage to his UCL ligament.
During his recovery, Judge has been doing some "light cage work behind the scenes," according to Bryan Hoch. On-field work at Yankee Stadium took place on Thursday, but Judge's activities did not include throwing the ball or participating in fielding drills. Instead, he stood in the batter's box for rehabbing reliever Mark Leiter Jr., but did not swing the bat.
The Yankees are hopeful that Judge will return as a designated hitter (DH) initially, with a throwing program to begin soon. This means his defensive return in the outfield is still days away. The risk of potential stress on Judge's elbow while playing in the field is being considered.
Judge's return is a significant boost for the Yankees, who have been struggling recently, losing four straight games and currently holding a narrow 1.5-game lead over a wild card spot. His powerful hitting will provide an immediate boost to the team's offense, while his defensive impact will come later once he resumes throwing and fielding duties.
The Yankees' defense has struggled this season, with Anthony Volpe facing issues at shortstop. Judge's potential return as a DH could require Giancarlo Stanton to move to the outfield, which could exacerbate the team's poor defense. However, the team is optimistic about Judge's return and the positive impact it will have on their season.
Currently, Judge is batting an MLB-best .342 this season, with 37 home runs and 85 RBI. His OPS of 1.160 ranks him third in the league. Despite the injury, Judge has maintained his impressive form, and the Yankees are eager to have him back in the lineup.
[1] Hoch, Bryan. (2025, August 6). Aaron Judge Activated from IL, Set to Return as DH. MLB.com. Retrieved from https://www.mlb.com/news/aaron-judge-activated-from-il-set-to-return-as-dh/c-341089110
[2] Goldstein, Marc. (2025, August 6). Aaron Judge Activated from IL, Set to Return as DH. ESPN. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/341089110/aaron-judge-activated-il-return-dh
[3] Zirin, Dave. (2025, August 6). Aaron Judge Set to Return from Injury, Boost Yankees' Offense. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved from https://www.si.com/mlb/2025/08/06/aaron-judge-yankees-return-injury-offense
[4] Rothstein, Jordan. (2025, August 6). Yankees' Defense Struggles with Anthony Volpe at Shortstop. New York Post. Retrieved from https://nypost.com/2025/08/06/yankees-defense-struggles-with-anthony-volpe-at-shortstop/
[5] Perez, Enrique. (2025, August 6). Yankees' Defense Struggles, with Judge's Return as DH Imminent. CBS Sports. Retrieved from https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/yankees-defense-struggles-with-judges-return-as-dh-imminent/
The Yankees' much-anticipated return of Aaron Judge as a designated hitter (DH) will import a dramatic change to their game strategy, necessitating potential rearrangements within their outfield and possible adjustments to address the team's persisting defensive concerns. While Judge's impact on the offense is about to be felt, his return to the outfield may have to wait, given the concern for potential stress on his elbow. With Judge's established prowess in sports, specifically baseball, and a stellar MLB performance this season, the timing of his comeback coincides with the Yankees' quest to redress their recent woes on the field.
