Bleeding Yankee Blue: AARON JUDGE IS CLOSE TO A RETURN

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

AARON JUDGE IS CLOSE TO A RETURN - BUT IS HE READY?

It's September so when we think about how Aaron Judge has been out since May 31st, it feels like a freaking lifetime ago. In baseball, three months is a lifetime. The clock is ticking on the regular season though, so there's not much time left if Judge is going to make it back for the playoffs.

If the rumor mill is true, Judge might be gearing up for a return very soon read more HERE. I hope it's true. Judge did travel with the team and he is ramping up his baseball activities as he works his way back from a right rib injury. Aaron Boone estimates that Judge could be back in action when the Yankees kick off a homestand against the Colorado Rockies on September 8th.

I hope he is ready to come back. Rib injuries are no joke and this isn't the first one he's ever had. The difference now is he's 34 and not the younger spring chicken he was when he experienced it back in 2019. He's on the other side of 30, and in baseball that's when everything slows down including your abilities and recovery time from injuries. Oh and, not for nothin, I don't trust the Yankees trainers or medical staff one bit. They suck. It's not the first time we've ranted about this.

There's one thing we all know about Judge. He wants to play, he's not okay sitting out and it's the end of the season so he is hungrier than ever. He's going to do or say whatever he has to so he can get back on that field. I love his spirit and drive in that respect, but it also makes me cringe because he's also the guy that is going to go balls out and play through anything and everything. If he's not 100% he's still going to tell you he is and play through any injury or setback. It's what makes him great. It's what makes him a leader. It's what makes him the most respected guy in the whole damn organization.

So, I just want him to be okay. I don't want him to dive on that ball in the outfield and injure his rib again or god forbid something else. He is the heartbeat of this team and getting him back could be the spark that we've been missing. This team looks VERY different when Judge is not on that field and in the lineup.

Fingers crossed that in less than a week Judge is back on the field and he is ready for action. We need him!