The New York Yankees will be without one of the best players in baseball for a while. It was announced Thursday night that slugger Aaron Judge has been diagnosed with a rib fracture.
Judge Diagnosed With Rib Fracture
The #Yankees say Aaron Judge has been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side. This will require a period of rest and limited activity. He will be reimaged in approximately four to six weeks to determine level of healing and appropriate next steps.…
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) June 5, 2026
This injury will require significant rest and limited activity. His rib fracture will be reassessed in four to six weeks to determine the next step in his recovery process.
Diagnosis Follows Weeks of Discomfort and MRI
Judge had been dealing with rib discomfort for the last few weeks, but attempted to play through it. Judge underwent an MRI this past Tuesday, missing his first game of the season.
Since May 11, Judge has only batted .206. It is likely his rib fracture has played a role in those struggles. Manager Aaron Boone seemingly confirmed this, saying that Judge did feel discomfort when he swung the bat.
Timetable For Return
The Yankees do expect Judge to return at some point in the regular season. However, it is unclear when. The four to six-week timetable is only to determine the next step of recovery, not a timetable for return. Judge will likely not return until August, though that is subject to change depending on how his rib heals.
Yankees Hoping For Reinforcements
The Yankees have been bitten by the injury bug quite a few times this season. They are currently without Giancarlo Stanton and Jasson Dominguez, although Dominguez is starting a rehab assignment soon. Stanton’s return seems further away, but the former MVP has been taking batting practice with the team.
Corresponding Roster Move
Once Judge is placed on the injured list with his rib fracture, the team will need to call up someone to take his place on the roster. Spencer Jones seems to be the most likely candidate. Jones was briefly on the roster when Dominguez was placed on the IL.
Yankees Host Rivals Without Captain
The Yankees will host the rival Boston Red Sox this weekend. The Yankees/Red Sox rivalry is always exciting to watch, but it will not be the same without Judge in the Yankees’ lineup.
For the Yankees, losing their captain will be a tough blow beyond this weekend. However, it does create an opportunity for someone to step up and perform in Judge’s place.
Main Photo: John Jones- Imagn Images
