Aaron Judge (rib) not fully healed, still not OK'd for baseball activities

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge remains sidelined as he recovers from a stress fracture in his first right rib. A recent medical scan shows partial healing, yet the outfielder is still not cleared for baseball activities. Judge has been limited to light cardio and neck exercises while he awaits further evaluation from a specialist.

The three-time American League MVP has not played since May 31. Despite the prolonged absence, both Judge and manager Aaron Boone maintain that he will return to the lineup before the end of the season. Judge noted that he feels better than he did when the injury occurred in late April, but the team continues to exercise caution with his recovery timeline.

The Yankees have felt his absence, posting an 18-19 record without him. The team is managing several other significant injuries as well, including time missed by Giancarlo Stanton and starting pitchers Max Fried and Carlos Rodón. While Max Fried is preparing for a rehab start, the timeline for Judge remains uncertain until further medical clearance is provided.

Judge previously dealt with a similar rib injury in 2020. The current injury occurred while he was diving for a flyball, a play he continued to compete through before his performance declined significantly. The club now awaits a final update from the medical staff to determine the next phase of his return program.