Yankees manager Aaron Boone is uncertain about whether star player Aaron Judge will return from injury for Tuesday's series opener against the Rockies, despite Judge facing live pitching Monday at Yankee Stadium. The specific arm throwing to Judge has not been determined as of Sunday. Judge, who has spent over three months on the injured list with a right rib stress fracture, aims to skip a rehab assignment and return sooner than expected. He will likely need a second time facing live pitching before being activated from the injured list.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Aaron Judge, the Yankees' star player, will face live pitching at Yankee Stadium on Monday as part of his rehabilitation from a right rib stress fracture. This is likely to be the final step before he returns to the team, which could happen as early as this week. Judge has been out for over three months and has been doing rehab work, including running the bases and defensive drills in right field. He had hoped to skip a minor league rehabilitation assignment and return directly to the majors. The Yankees' manager, Aaron Boone, was non-committal about whether Judge's return would be on Tuesday when the team faces the Rockies.
Written for “Aaron Judge Injury Update” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 6476 · logged 2026-09-07
Aaron Judge is expected to face live pitching Monday at Yankee Stadium, essentially the last box for him to check — other than building up his stamina — before he returns from a right rib stress fracture, likely at some point this week.
asserted
he → expect → point
Try it freeAs of Sunday, the Yankees were still figuring out who would actually be throwing to Judge, but it will be his first time facing a live arm as he hopes to skip a rehab assignment in favor of returning sooner after spending three-plus months on the injured list.
asserted
he → try → list
The captain indicated Friday that he would likely need to face live pitching “a couple” of times before he is activated, which would seem to rule him out for Tuesday’s series opener against the Rockies.
asserted
which → indicate → Rockies
But Aaron Boone would not say if Tuesday was unrealistic for Judge’s return.
asserted
Tuesday → say → return
“I don’t know,” Boone said.
asserted
Boone → know → ?
“We’ll see.”
asserted
We → see → ?
Before Sunday’s game, Judge ran the bases again and did defensive work in right field.
asserted
Judge → run → field
Jasson Domínguez, who will likely be headed right back to Triple-A as soon as Judge is activated, started in right field Sunday and made a brutal fielding error, though it did not end up costing the Yankees.
asserted
it → head → Yankees
Dustin Harris led off with a single to right that took a few bounces to get to Domínguez before he simply whiffed on it, as the ball rolled all the way to the wall and Harris took two extra bases.
asserted
Harris → lead → bases
“Obviously a play you’ve got to make.
asserted
you → get → play
Didn’t make it,” Boone said.
asserted
Boone → make → it
“Fortunately we were able to get out of that inning, but just didn’t make the play.”
asserted
we → get → play
Gerrit Cole was able to strand Harris at third, picking up Domínguez, who went 1-for-4.
asserted
who → strand → 1
Asked if he had a conversation with Domínguez about the play in the dugout, Boone said no.
asserted
Boone → ask → dugout
“Errors happen.
asserted
Errors → happen → ?
You’ve got to catch the ball, obviously,” Boone said.
asserted
Boone → get → ball
“I don’t know what the conversation would be other than, ‘Let’s go.’”
asserted
’s → know → ?
- WinCraft insulated can coolers
- Team Effort driver head cover
- 47 Brand adjustable cap
- Customizable jersey
- Logo fleece blanket
- 14-ounce sculpted relief coffee mug
It will not be Clarke Schmidt pitching to Judge, as the right-hander made his third rehab appearance Sunday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
asserted
hander → pitch → A
He tossed two scoreless innings with a walk and a strikeout while throwing on three days of rest.
asserted
He → toss → rest
Boone said Schmidt would need “at least a couple more” rehab outings before he could join the Yankees bullpen.
uncertain
he → say → bullpen
Ryan Weathers (left forearm flexor strain) began his throwing program Saturday following a two-week shutdown. …
asserted
Weathers → begin → shutdown
Giancarlo Stanton (calf strain) has been hitting, with the Yankees not yet ready to rule him out for the rest of the year, though it remains unlikely.
asserted
it → hit → year
Former Yankee Michael King used Judge’s walk-up song — Pop Smoke’s “Hello” — as his own warmup music Sunday, seemingly a tribute to the slugger on the verge of his return.
asserted
King → use → return
After having him in the bullpen this weekend but not using him, the Yankees optioned Elmer Rodriguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
asserted
Yankees → have → A
