Aaron Judge Returns Tuesday, Yankees Hope for Turnaround/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Aaron Judge will return to the Yankees lineup Tuesday after a 10-day IL stint with a right elbow strain. His comeback arrives as New York struggles, now in third place in the AL East. Judge’s .342 average and 37 home runs could reignite the slumping offense.
Aaron Judge Returns Quick Looks
- Judge set to return Tuesday after 10-day IL stint
- Flexor strain in right elbow sidelined him since July 25
- MRI showed no UCL damage; received PRP injection
- Will likely serve as designated hitter initially
- Yankees have lost four straight, now third in AL East
- Outfielder Austin Slater hits IL with hamstring tightness
- Stanton limited to DH duties due to past injuries
- Judge still leads MLB with a .342 average
- New York is 18-28 since mid-June
- Yankees currently trail Boston in wild-card race
Deep Look: Aaron Judge Returns as Yankees Look to Reverse Season Slide
ARLINGTON, Texas — As the New York Yankees endure one of their most challenging stretches of the 2025 season, the return of team captain Aaron Judge may offer a badly needed spark. After a 10-day stint on the injured list due to a flexor strain in his right elbow, Judge is expected to rejoin the lineup Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone confirmed late Monday.
Judge hasn’t played since July 25, but the two-time AL MVP is still leading the majors with a .342 batting average and ranks fourth with 37 home runs. His return couldn’t come at a more critical moment, as the Yankees have now lost four consecutive games, including Monday’s 8-5, 10-inning loss to the Texas Rangers.
“Judge tomorrow,” Boone said postgame, confirming the long-anticipated return but declining to go into specifics.
Designated Hitter Role First
While Boone didn’t elaborate postgame, he previously noted that Judge would initially return as a designated hitter, allowing him to ease back into gameplay without further stressing the elbow. Boone also mentioned Judge might play catch during the series in Texas to assess readiness for outfield duties later in the week.
Judge was seen at Globe Life Field during Monday’s game after traveling from Tampa, where he spent two days hitting against minor league pitchers at the Yankees’ training complex.
Injury Recap and Diagnosis
The injury was first noticed during a July 22 game in Toronto. After making a strong throw home from right field and a follow-up throw the next inning, Judge was caught on camera clenching his right hand in visible discomfort. An MRI later revealed no damage to the ulnar collateral ligament, and he received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection on July 27.
He was officially placed on the IL in a move retroactive to July 26.
Slater to IL, Roster Spot Opens
Judge’s activation comes as newly acquired outfielder Austin Slater heads to the injured list with left hamstring tightness. Slater, who joined the Yankees last Wednesday from the White Sox, left Monday’s game in the second inning after running out a fielder’s choice.
Boone confirmed Slater’s IL move, creating an open roster spot for Judge.
Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton, who has missed significant time this year due to tendon inflammation in both elbows, remains the everyday DH. Boone made it clear Stanton would not play the outfield in Texas, meaning the team will need to juggle DH duties between the two sluggers.
Struggling Yankees in Desperate Need of Momentum
The Yankees arrived in Texas reeling from a three-game sweep in Miami, falling to third in the AL East behind Toronto and Boston. They’ve gone 18-28 since June 13, after entering July in first place. They now trail the division-leading Blue Jays by 5.5 games, and are 2.5 games behind the Red Sox in the wild-card standings, with only 49 games left.
Boone acknowledged the mounting pressure on the team but insisted the solution lies in execution, not excuses.
“Nobody cares how stressful it is… We’ve got to play better, and we’ve got to win, and we know that,” Boone told reporters.
All Eyes on Judge’s Return
With the season slipping and playoff hopes thinning, the Yankees are placing high hopes on Judge to provide the offensive boost they’ve been missing. Even in absence, Judge’s numbers remain elite. In addition to his MLB-best batting average, he ranks among the top five in home runs and RBIs, with 85 runs batted in.
If Judge can return to form quickly, his bat could be the turning point the Yankees desperately need to reassert themselves in the AL playoff picture.
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