The roar at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday was loud enough to shake the concrete, but the scoreboard told a different story. Aaron Judge stepped into the batter’s box for the first time in over 100 days and left with zero hits. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, yet the team made it clear that a single game result mattered less than keeping their star healthy for the long haul.
A Careful Plan for a Star Player
New York manager Aaron Boone knew exactly what he was doing when he pulled Judge after just six innings. The team held a slim 2-1 lead when the switch happened, and Boone stated he would not let Judge play the full game. “I’m going to be mindful of that, especially this first week,” Boone said. Smartly building him up is our goal, though we will adjust nightly based on observations. This wasn’t a surprise; the team activated him without a minor-league rehab assignment because he had already faced live pitching at the stadium on Monday.
During his short stint, Judge struck out twice, went 0-for-3, and hit a fly out, per ESPN. He looked fine physically, but the goal is to ensure he stays that way through October. The average ticket price for this emotional return jumped to $87, which is more than double what fans paid on Saturday. Fans paid up to see the captain, even if the manager knew he wouldn’t stay in the game.
The Team Moves On Without Him
The Yankees have proved they can win even when their best hitter sits on the bench. The squad posted a 45-39 record without Judge while he recovered from the fractured rib. They are currently four games behind the Rays in the standings. This gap is tight, but the team is aiming to break a 17-year championship drought by staying healthy.
Boone noted that Judge has been asymptomatic during his recovery, which allowed the team to skip the usual rehab steps. “That’s what we had to get to,” Boone said. Over the past few weeks, that is where he has truly begun ramping up his body, strength, and running. The manager added that Judge told him he felt no restrictions or pain.
One night is not enough to get a player back in top shape after a rib fracture. Before the Subway Series against the New York Mets, the team has 19 games for Judge to reach full speed, notes the New York Post. He will sit out the next two nights before that series begins. Heliot Ramos replaced him in right field after the sixth inning, and the lineup moved on without missing a beat.
The Yankees did not need a home run from Judge on Tuesday to win the game. They needed him to be ready for the fall. The team will take their time to get him right, even if it means a quiet night at the plate. “But I got work to do. Got to improve, and we’ll keep improving as this goes along. Because we got ballgames to win, that’s the most important thing.” Judge said those words after his first at-bat in three months. The win counts, but the health of the team counts more.
