Aaron Judge eyes September return without minor league rehab

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge is targeting a September return to the field, expressing confidence that he can bypass a minor league rehabilitation assignment. Judge has been sidelined since May 31 with a fractured right rib, but he believes skipping the traditional rehab step is a realistic possibility.

Despite needing to pass further checks and not yet facing high-velocity pitches, the outfielder has ramped up his preparation. "I feel really good," Judge told MLB.com, assessing his progress. "It's one of the reasons why we're accelerating this a little bit and really doing more outside, doing more in the cages. Things feel good and hopefully it's progressed. Now it's about volume." When asked about a return date, he added, "Tomorrow, if I can (but I don't know if they'll let me). Hopefully soon."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone shared his optimism after observing Judge during batting practice. "He was out there taking batting practice on the field and our pre-game routines. I stopped and watched about a half-dozen swings, give or take. I thought, ‘That’s Aaron Judge.’ It was encouraging," Boone said.

Judge indicated his desire to avoid minor league affiliates, recalling his experience last season. "I didn't rehab in '23 when I missed probably the same amount of time," he stated. "Why waste at-bats? Why waste anything in a minor league game? I've been doing this for a while and I have a sense of what I need to do on the field and how to manage it. Why waste some at-bats in Double-A or Triple-A?"

The three-time American League MVP's potential return without a rehab assignment highlights his importance to the Yankees' lineup as they push for the postseason.