Aaron Judge Wants To Skip Minor League Assignment Before Yankees Return

Aaron Judge is hoping to skip a minor league rehabilitation assignment before returning to the New York Yankees as he nears the three-month mark in his recovery from a stress fracture in his right rib.

"If I tell them I’m ready to go play, I think we’re ready to go play," Judge said Thursday before the Yankees concluded a three-game series with Houston.

"I’m not a pitcher.

I’m a position player.

I can get my reps down here in the cage.

I’m in every game.

I’m sitting there in the dugout watching every game, feeling the environment, feeling the energy, so I don’t think there’s going to be much of a difference." Judge skipped a rehab assignment in 2023 when he missed 42 games with a fractured right big toe after crashing into the right-field fence at Dodger Stadium.

In 2019, he appeared in five minor league games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when he missed two months with a strained left oblique.

"He said that to me, too," manager Aaron Boone said.

"If and when we get to that point, we’ll work through all that." Judge began taking swings in the indoor batting cages Tuesday.

The three-time AL MVP also recently started doing some running and throwing in the outfield.

The Yankees' captain declined to offer a target date for his return, but said he's not feeling anything other than normal soreness.

"Obviously, there’s soreness from not doing anything for the past couple of weeks, but now we’re building that up and we’re in a good spot," Judge said.

"So, there has not been any setbacks, which is the greatest thing." Judge missed his 74th game Thursday night since he last played on May 31.