Aaron Judge still not cleared for baseball activities, expects 2026 return

Aaron Judge is still not cleared for baseball activities after a stress fracture in his rib cage, but he expects to return at some point this season.

What happened to Aaron Judge?

Yankees star Aaron Judge hasn’t played since May 31 because of a stress fracture in his rib cage. The Yankees originally planned to wait four to six weeks before re-evaluating his status. That window has now passed, and Judge told reporters on Friday that imaging shows **some healing** but he’s **not fully healed**.

Judge, 34, said he’s seen **progress** but still needs one more doctor to review his scans. He added there’s more imaging ahead before he can resume baseball activities. The Yankees have yet to set a firm return date.

Why it matters for Aaron Judge and the Yankees

Judge won American League MVP in each of his last three full seasons and was baseball’s best hitter from 2022 until his injury this year. His absence has hurt the Yankees’ lineup, though their record splits tell the story: they’re 36-23 with Judge in the lineup and 18-19 without him.

The team recently went through a brutal slump, losing 14 of 18 games before closing the first half with a four-game winning streak. Without Judge, their realistic shot at a World Series run dims-even if they’ve stayed competitive.

What Judge said Friday

Judge called the latest scans **a positive sign** because they show **some healing**. He told reporters at Yankee Stadium: *“There’s been some progress, some healing going on, but not fully healed.”* He added: *“I don’t see why I wouldn’t”* return this season.

The Yankees haven’t cleared him for baseball activities yet. More tests are coming, and the team is still waiting on one final doctor’s review before moving forward.

What comes next for Judge and the Yankees

Judge’s timeline remains unclear. The Yankees will keep monitoring his progress over the next couple weeks. For now, he’s still sidelined, but he’s optimistic about returning in 2026.

The Yankees need Judge back to push for a deep postseason run. His bat and presence in the lineup are **crucial**-though they’ve managed without him so far this year.