Aaron Judge rib not fully healed, still not cleared

Aaron Judge's fractured rib is not fully healed and the Yankees star is still not cleared for baseball activities, leaving his return timeline unclear even as New York tries to climb the mlb standings. A recent scan showed only partial healing; Judge and manager Aaron Boone still expect him back in 2026.

Nearly two months after he last played, re-imaging this week confirmed Aaron Judge's stress fracture in his first right rib has not healed enough for baseball work. The three-time American League MVP has been out since May 31 and remains limited while specialists map the next steps.

Key Takeaways

• A Wednesday scan showed only partial healing of Judge's right rib stress fracture.
• Judge is still not cleared for baseball activities and awaits input from specialist Dr. Gregory Pearl.
• Judge and Boone both say they still expect a 2026 return; the timing is unknown.
• New York is 36-23 with Judge in the lineup and 18-19 without him, sitting three games behind the Rays in the AL East.

What did the latest scan show on Judge's rib?

According to ESPN, Wednesday's imaging showed partial healing, which Judge called a positive result. He told reporters there has been "some progress, some healing going on, but not fully healed."

The Yankees are waiting to hear from Dr. Gregory Pearl, a Dallas-based specialist, before locking in a plan. "We've got a big team of guys looking at this just so we can get the best answer and have the right plans," Judge said. Coverage of the update also lands in our celebrity breaking news roundup.

When could Aaron Judge return to the Yankees lineup?

Judge has not been cleared to resume baseball activities. His current work is limited to incline treadmill walking and neck exercises as the rib progresses. He said he is "feeling better" than early in the injury and described himself as "feeling 10 times better" after "a couple weeks that were tough."

Asked about returning this season, Judge said, "I don't know why I wouldn't [return]." Boone echoed that outlook: "I feel good about the fact that he'll be back. It's just a matter of when." CBS Sports reported Judge "definitely" expects to play again in 2026, with more imaging still ahead and little concrete timeline offered.

How does Judge's absence affect the Yankees and mlb standings?

Judge, 34, sustained the injury diving for a fly ball in late April and played through pain before the stress fracture was diagnosed. His production plunged after May 12: after 16 home runs and a 1.047 OPS in 43 games, he had one homer and a .550 OPS over his next 16 games. General manager Brian Cashman later said Judge "probably" made the injury worse by playing with it.

The Yankees went 36-23 with Judge and are 18-19 without him. New York enters the second half at 54-42, three games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East—making every week without their MVP a live mlb standings story. They are also without Giancarlo Stanton (calf), Max Fried (elbow), and Carlos Rodón (elbow), though Fried was set for a rehab start as the club pushes toward August.

For a club chasing October, Judge's health remains the central second-half plotline: partial healing is progress, but clearance for baseball activities—and a firm return date—still wait on the next medical call.