The New York Yankees received encouraging news Thursday regarding Aaron Judge’s injury, even if the reigning American League MVP is expected to miss significant time.
After undergoing a series of tests, including an MRI, CT scan, and X-rays, Judge was diagnosed with a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side. The Yankees announced that he will be shut down and re-evaluated in four to six weeks to assess healing before determining the next phase of his recovery.
While any extended absence from Judge is a major blow for a Yankees team with postseason aspirations, the diagnosis could have been far worse.
A Better Outcome Than Many Feared
As Judge underwent testing this week, concern began to grow that the injury could be related to thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), a condition that occurs when nerves or blood vessels between the neck and shoulder become compressed. The injury has sidelined several professional athletes in recent years and often requires surgery, with recoveries that can stretch six months or longer.
Had Judge been diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, there was legitimate concern that his 2026 season would have been shut down.
Instead, the Yankees received a diagnosis that, while serious, comes with a much clearer path toward a return this season.
Judge reportedly sought the opinion of Dr. Gregory Pearl, one of the nation’s leading specialists in thoracic outlet syndrome treatment for athletes, before the Yankees ultimately determined the issue was a stress fracture rather than a more severe nerve or vascular condition.
Signs Were There Before the Diagnosis
According to manager Aaron Boone, Judge had been dealing with discomfort for several weeks, primarily while swinging. Judge reportedly could not identify a specific moment when the injury occurred, and swelling around the affected area complicated the diagnostic process.
The injury may also help explain a rare slump from baseball’s most dominant hitter. After producing another MVP-caliber start to the season, Judge’s numbers dipped noticeably over the past few weeks as he continued playing through discomfort.
Reasons for Optimism
Every injury is unique, and recovery timelines can vary greatly from player to player. However, recent examples around Major League Baseball suggest that rib fractures do not necessarily lead to season-ending absences.
Cody Bellinger suffered a rib fracture in July 2024 and missed just 20 days. Upon returning, he immediately caught fire, batting .556 for the remainder of July and .247 for the remainder of the season.
Mookie Betts also dealt with a rib fracture in 2022, missing only 15 games between June 15 and July 3. He returned to hit .270 the rest of the season while helping lead the Dodgers into the postseason.
Those cases are not direct comparisons to Judge’s situation, and first-rib stress fractures can vary significantly in severity. Still, they offer evidence that a return to form following a rib injury is far from uncommon.
What’s Next for the Yankees
The Yankees will now move forward without the centerpiece of their lineup while Judge begins the healing process.
The Yankees have called up power-hitting right-fielder Spencer Jones, who appeared in 10 games for the Yankees earlier this season, batting .167 with 12 strikeouts and a .426 OPS before being optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 22. Despite the brief struggles, the 6-foot-7 outfielder remains the Yankees’ No. 5 prospect and one of the organization’s most intriguing young power bats.
Since returning to Triple-A, Jones has shown signs of regaining his rhythm at the plate. He is batting .304 since being sent down and has been especially productive to begin June, hitting .357 with a .900 OPS through his first four starts of the month. The Yankees will now hope that momentum translates to the major league level as Jones is tasked with helping fill the void left by the three-time AL MVP’s absence.
The club is also awaiting the eventual returns of Giancarlo Stanton and Jasson Domínguez, both of whom are working their way back from injuries.
Losing Judge for any amount of time is difficult. Replacing one of baseball’s most impactful players is impossible.
But after days of uncertainty and fears of a potentially season-ending diagnosis, the Yankees can take solace in one important fact: Aaron Judge is expected to play baseball again in 2026.
And after the alternatives that were being discussed this week, that’s about the best news the organization could have hoped for.
