New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge awaits clearance over broken rib
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge has not been cleared to resume baseball activities as his broken right rib remains partially unhealed following a recent scan.
The 32-year-old outfielder has been sidelined since 31 May after suffering a stress fracture.
A medical assessment conducted during the recent All-Star break revealed only partial healing of the affected area.
The American League slugger is currently waiting for further instructions from the club’s medical staff regarding his rehabilitation timeline.
Boone remains optimistic despite absence
Speaking on Friday ahead of a weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Yankees manager Aaron Boone maintained a positive outlook.
“I feel good about the fact that he will be back. It’s just a matter of when.”
Prior to the injury, the formidable hitter was batting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 runs batted in.
However, his form had dipped significantly before his enforced break, registering just one home run in his final 18 appearances.
His prolonged absence has heavily impacted the Bronx Bombers’ momentum throughout the mid-summer stretch.
New York boasted a strong 36-23 record when their captain last took to the diamond, but they have managed only an 18-19 run since entering the second half of the season.
Mounting injury concerns for New York
The Yankees are currently navigating a severe injury crisis that extends well beyond their star right fielder.
Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton has been unavailable since 24 April due to a strained right calf.
The pitching rotation is also heavily depleted, with left-handers Max Fried and Carlos Rodon both sidelined by separate elbow issues.
However, there is some positive news on the horizon for the struggling pitching staff.
Fried was scheduled to make a rehabilitation start on Friday as he recovers from a bone bruise.
Furthermore, Clarke Schmidt is set to throw an inning of batting practice on Saturday as he continues his long return from Tommy John surgery.