Aaron Judge offers injury update with defiant promise of Yankees return this season

Aaron Judge has started to see some healing in the stress fracture in his first right rib, but that’s about where the clarity ends for the Yankees and their superstar.

While Judge insisted Friday that he’ll “definitely” return again this season, his timeline for a return hasn’t gotten any clearer.

Aaron Judge (99) hits a walk-off two-run home run in the 9th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Judge, who underwent reimaging and has been out since May 31, called the healing a “positive sign,” but the Yankees said that it wasn’t enough to allow their superstar to resume baseball activities, according to The Post’s Greg Joyce.

Yankees Aaron Judge reacts on the dugout fence during the sixth inning when the New York Yankees played the Minnesota Twins Saturday, July 4, 2026 at Yankee Stadium Robert Sabo for NY Post

But when asked by reporters if he still expected to play again at some point this season, with the Yankees resuming their season Friday against the Dodgers on a four-game winning streak and in the middle of a playoff push once again, Judge said, in part, “I don’t see why I wouldn’t.”