Yankees get positive Aaron Judge update before Rockies series

The New York Yankees could have their three-time MVP back in the lineup soon. 

Aaron Judge has been on the injured list since June 5 with a fractured rib. Without the superstar right fielder, the Yankees have gone 45-38. 

At the time of Judge's injury, the AL East club was 36-23. 

It's possible that he could be in the lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies, but both Judge and manager Aaron Boone wouldn't confirm anything. 

“I wanted to be back June 1, but that didn’t happen,” Judge said. “I’ll leave it up to the manager when he wants to put me in there," Judge told MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, who reported that Judge will face live pitching at Yankee Stadium on Monday. 

Judge has said multiple times that he would prefer not to go on a minor league rehab assignment. 

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Over the last few weeks, he has been hitting off the tee, taking batting practice, running in the outfield, and performing outfield drills. 

“I’m not too worried about the power or bat speed,” Judge told Hoch. “I feel like even if it’s a tick off, I still think it’s better than nothing.”

The Yankees would love to have Judge in the lineup on Tuesday. That would give him more than two weeks of regular-season action before the postseason. 

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