The New York Yankees reinstated three-time MVP Aaron Judge from the 60-day injured list on Monday, setting him up to return from a three-month absence when they begin a home series Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies.
Judge, 34, has not played since May 31 due to a stress fracture in one of his right ribs. It was initially diagnosed as a bone bruise, but later scans revealed the full extent of the injury. Judge said in June he believed the injury occurred on a diving play at Houston in late April and that it caused pain in his right (throwing) shoulder.
The stress fracture caused Judge to miss the entire summer, and he did not resume playing catch until mid-August, after previously resuming outdoor running and light baseball activities.
The captain missed 84 games but returns to a Yankees team in the thick of a division race in the highly competitive American League East. At 81-62, they are four games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays and two ahead of the Boston Red Sox.
In 59 games before the injury, Judge batted .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs.
To make room for Judge’s return, the Yankees designated right-handed pitching prospect Chase Hampton for assignment. Hampton played at three minor league levels in 2026, as high as Double-A Somerset, but was 0-6 with an 8.18 ERA in 17 starts.
