May 31, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) walks around the batting cage before a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: New York Yankees at Seattle Mariners
(New York, NY) — No, Aaron Judge is not close to returning.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday that there’s no timetable for Judge (toe) to return from the injured list.
Cashman was responding to a rumor that Judge would be activated “right after” the All-Star break.
“I’m hearing some grumblings he’s going to be back right after the All-Star break, so we’ll see if I’m right,” Bret Boone, the brother of Yankees manager Aaron said during a recent appearance on “The Zach Gelb Show.”
At least it was a reliable source?
Just last week, ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney mentioned that the Yankees would “be thrilled if (Judge) played sometime in July.”
The captain resumed light hitting last week, but still has many boxes to check, including running the bases and playing in rehab games. It’s hard to predict how the torn ligament in his right big toe will respond to ramping up activity.
The harsh reality is that he’s not close yet.
Cashman insisted Judge will return “at some point” during the second half of the season, but it’s impossible to say for sure when that will happen.
Judge has been sidelined since June 3rd after crashing into the right field wall at Dodgers stadium.
The Bombers gone 14-17 since, and rank dead last in the majors in batting (.218) and on-base percentage (.288) in the captains absence.
