Aaron Judge returned to the New York Yankees lineup on Tuesday, playing six innings in right field and inspiring hope in what became a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The comeback marked his first game action in 100 days.
Despite an 0-for-3 night at the plate, Judge looked like a player capable of igniting the Yankees' World Series aspirations. Manager Aaron Boone expressed optimism about Judge's presence, noting a palpable difference in the clubhouse.
"His presence is very real and obviously you know what he means to those guys — not only as a player, but as a person in that room, as a captain," Boone said. "So I think everyone’s excited, obviously, that he’s back."
The Yankees offense was buoyed by Heliot Ramos, who entered the game for Judge and hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning. Pitcher Cam Schlittler delivered a strong performance, holding the Rockies to one run over seven innings.
Judge's return was met with enthusiasm by the sellout crowd of 46,211 at Yankee Stadium, who gave him a standing ovation. He was removed for Ramos after six innings and was not tested defensively in the outfield. The team plans to manage his workload carefully as he builds back his stamina and performance.
"We’ll adjust each night [from] what we see," Boone said of Judge's integration. "And want to build him up smartly."
The Yankees, who had tread water with a 45-39 record during Judge's absence, are aiming to make a strong push in the remaining 19 games of the regular season. The win temporarily put them 3 ½ games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the standings.