As the New York Yankees begin the second half of their season, the health of star outfielder Aaron Judge remains a central concern. Judge is scheduled to undergo imaging on his right rib, nearly six weeks after a stress fracture was identified, to determine his potential return timeline.
The results of this imaging are critical, as they could influence whether Judge is able to rejoin the team as early as late August. Manager Aaron Boone expressed cautious optimism, stating, “Hopefully we get some positive news there and we can start moving forward.” However, he acknowledged the need to wait for the official findings. General Manager Brian Cashman emphasized the organization's commitment to not rushing Judge back, citing the significant risk of exacerbating the injury. "We don’t want to, because the schedule is what it is, put him in the position where we’re putting him in jeopardy, where somehow it gets worse," Cashman said.
Even in a best-case scenario, the Yankees anticipate it could be another month before Judge is back on the field. Since he was placed on the injured list, the team has struggled to maintain consistency, posting an 18-19 record in his absence. While they managed to win four consecutive games heading into the All-Star break, they will need to improve significantly to contend in the AL East.
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The team is looking forward to the potential returns of pitcher Max Fried, who is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon, and Carlos Rodón, who may have thrown a bullpen session during the break. Reinforcements for the bullpen and lineup, particularly at catcher, are also anticipated by the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The return of Giancarlo Stanton in the second half is also a possibility, though his calf strain has delayed his comeback.
Despite significant injuries to key players like Judge, Stanton, Fried, Rodón, and Gerrit Cole throughout the first half, the Yankees have managed to stay within striking distance of first place in the AL East. However, their ultimate goal of winning a championship in October hinges on the health of their star players, particularly Judge. "The way I look at it is, we’ve given ourselves a chance to realize all our hopes and dreams," Boone said. "We’re set up to go take it. It’s a long way to go still."