Aaron Judge returns Sept. 8

Aaron Judge was back in the New York Yankees’ lineup on Tuesday, Sept. 8, ending an absence that had kept the club’s captain out since May 31, according to MLB’s lineup and injury reporting and a social media post from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Judge had been sidelined by a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side, an injury that sent him to the injured list on June 5, retroactive to June 2, before a transfer to the 60-day IL on July 18. (mlb.com) The return came as New York opened a homestand on Sept. 8 against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium. (mlb.com) MLB.com had listed Judge’s expected return as “possibly week of Sept. 8” in its Yankees injuries tracker, and manager Aaron Boone had said earlier this month that a return for the homestand was in play. ### How long had Judge been out? May 31 was Judge’s last game before the injury shut him down. MLB.com reported on Aug. 27 that Judge hoped to return in September without a minor league rehab assignment, which would have meant his first game back would come directly with the Yankees. (mlb.com) June 5 was the date of Judge’s injured-list placement, retroactive to June 2, and July 18 was the date he was moved to the 60-day IL, according to MLB’s Yankees injury page. The injury was identified there as a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side. (mlb.com) ### What did the Yankees say before Tuesday? Sept. 6 was the most recent MLB.com injury update before Judge’s return. The report said he had run bases and done outfield work that day and was expected to face live pitching in New York on Sept. 7, his first such session since the injury. (mlb.com) Aaron Boone said on Sept. 1 that Judge was “doing well” and that Sept. 8 was possible, ESPN reported. MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch wrote on Aug. 27 that Judge said, “I feel great,” while explaining why he believed a September return without a rehab assignment was realistic. (mlb.com) ### What steps did Judge clear on the way back? Sept. 5 brought another visible checkpoint. MLB.com reported that Judge took batting practice on a big league field for the first time since May 31, with Hoch describing it as another box checked in the recovery process. (mlb.com) Judge said that day, “I’m mad how long it has taken,” according to MLB.com. The same report said the Yankees were targeting the upcoming homestand as the window for his return. (espn.com) ### Why was Sept. 8 the key date? Sept. 8 marked the start of a six-game homestand that MLB.com and other reports had identified as the first realistic target for Judge’s return. The Yankees were scheduled to host the Rockies first and then the Mets beginning Sept. 11. (mlb.com) Bob Nightengale wrote on X on Tuesday that Judge had returned to the lineup. That post matched the timetable laid out in MLB’s recent injury updates and pregame reporting. (mlb.com) ### What comes next for New York? The Yankees’ next games come at home against Colorado before the Mets arrive at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 11. MLB.com noted in its Sept. 5 report that the Mets series is part of the same homestand Judge had been targeting for his return. (pinstripesnation.com) Sept. 11 will also bring pregame ceremonies involving members of the 2001 Yankees team, according to MLB.com’s earlier homestand coverage. For now, the immediate next step is Judge’s workload in the opening games of this homestand after his first appearance since May. (pinstripesnation.com) (mlb.com)