Yankees star Aaron Judge is on the cusp of returning to action after missing 82 games due to a stress fracture in his first right rib. Manager Aaron Boone has confirmed Judge’s physical readiness and emphasized that only live pitching sessions remain before reactivation can occur. The team plans to arrange these live batting practice sessions during the upcoming homestand, possibly on Monday or Tuesday, targeting a potential return as early as Friday, September 11, in a high-profile 9/11 commemorative game against the Mets.

Judge’s return is crucial as the Yankees currently sit four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East with only 19 regular-season games left, including important head-to-head matchups against the Rays. While the team has maintained a solid 45-38 record without him, Boone and Judge acknowledge his presence will be vital in both securing a division title and preparing for the playoffs. Judge has declined to play minor-league rehab games, preferring to return directly once live pitching is completed.

The Yankees are balancing the urgency of getting Judge back with the need to ensure he is fully healthy and productive for the postseason. Given that Judge is in the fourth year of a lucrative nine-year contract paying $40 million annually, the team sees his health and performance as central to their World Series ambitions. With the Rays spending $109 million compared to the Yankees' $336.7 million payroll, Judge’s impact transcends salary figures and is key to the club’s postseason success.

Judge himself expressed eagerness to get the “green light” to play and emphasized the importance of being ready not only for the playoffs but also for the critical final stretch of the regular season. The 9/11 game holds special significance for Judge, who has not appeared in a competitive game since the World Baseball Classic finals in March. Overall, the Yankees are managing his comeback with caution to maximize their playoff potential while aiming to recapture the form they showed in their recent World Series run.