Aaron Judge Faces Long Road to Full Return After Fractured Rib

Aaron Judge is finally starting to ramp up baseball activities after a three-month layoff due to a stress fracture in his first right rib. The Yankees captain has been out since May 31, and it's unclear when he'll return to the field.

What happened?

Judge suffered a stress fracture in his first right rib, which forced him to go on the injured list. He's been undergoing rehabilitation and has just started playing catch and swinging a bat.

Why it matters for Aaron Judge

The risk of reinjury is a major concern for Judge and the Yankees. Dr. Spencer Stein, a sports orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone, warns that the bone may not be fully healed, which could lead to pain or re-injury.

What comes next?

Judge is expected to continue his rehabilitation and will likely need to ramp up his activities gradually. The Yankees haven't provided a specific return date, but Judge is expected back sometime in September.

Dr. Stein emphasizes that most athletes require a period of ramp up to return to their pre-injury level. "Most people will take time to get back to that elite level," he says. "So every swing, every throw, there's going to be constant stress on that rib."

Judge has been re-imaged after two months, and the MRI showed healing, but not enough to start baseball activities. Another MRI after two and a half months showed more healing, enough where he could do a little more and eventually start introducing baseball activities.

How long will the recovery take?

Dr. Stein estimates that Judge will need a few more weeks to fully recover. "I think it should be healed by three months," he says. "Most of the time, general fracture literature shows healing and return to activity by eight weeks, so it's two months."

Judge's return to the field will depend on his progress and the risk of reinjury. The Yankees will need to be cautious and ensure that Judge is fully healed before allowing him to return to the field.

Key Takeaways:

• Aaron Judge suffered a stress fracture in his first right rib on May 31.
• He's been undergoing rehabilitation and has just started playing catch and swinging a bat.
• The risk of reinjury is a major concern for Judge and the Yankees.
• Judge is expected back sometime in September, but the exact date is unclear.

Recovery Timeline:

Note: The recovery timeline is an estimate and may vary depending on Judge's progress.